Grow Your Own Program
GISD paves the path for aspiring teachers
GISD is always looking for new and innovative ways to recruit and retain qualified teachers and staff. We know that we have many staff who are not certified classroom teachers, but already make a big impact on our students and our educational system. Many of those paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, or other campus staff desire to have a classroom of their own someday.
Whether they are currently enrolled in college or have some college hours, but had to put their education on hold, the desire to teach is still there. GISD is excited to launch a new initiative for our staff with this goal in mind called Teachworthy Elevate. The program is a “grow your own” teacher development pipeline that gives GISD the ability to take valued staff who want to be teachers and give them a life changing opportunity.
Introducing a first-of-its-kind partnership between Teachworthy and Indiana Wesleyan University. Teachworthy Elevate is a district-led, quality-focused, and integrated curriculum that prepares aspiring teachers for the classroom and opens the door to a career in education. This creates a sustainable pipeline that develops current staff into teachers at no cost to the employee.
In Fall 2024, GISD staff were approached with the opportunity to apply to be in the first cohort of the program. A total of 15 staff members applied and six, all of whom are paraprofessionals, were selected to participate in the first GISD cohort of future teachers. Current college hours accumulated and likelihood to finish the program in a timely manner were all considered when determining who would participate. Each para in this cohort falls into one of three categories in current college hours: 0-30, 30-60, or 60-90. While in this stage, the employee remains at their current paraprofessional pay rate.
In the next step of the process, the employee becomes a classroom instructor after completing the Teachworthy Elevate modules. At that time, they will also begin classes with Indiana Wesleyan University. While classified as a classroom instructor, the employee will be earning a reduced teacher pay until they become a certified teacher.
They are required to complete 30 hours in courses at IWU, which are built around their desired teaching field. Each student must have 50 additional college hours, which can be transferred from another college or university or taken at IWU at the student’s expense. There are also opportunities to transfer up to 30 credits offered by the school district.
The staff member/student/aspiring teacher is able to accomplish college and certification at a much lower cost than if they completed it through another avenue. In addition, their pay rate is substantially higher than it currently is as a paraprofessional.
The school district pays the course fees for the required 30 hours of IWU courses. The district is able to use the difference in the classroom instructor pay rate and the certified teacher pay rate to cover these costs. The student is required to pay for the books for these courses as well as the fees and books for the additional courses needed to fulfill the remaining 50 college credits that are not transferred from another college or university.
We are very excited to see our future teachers and valued staff members thrive in this program. Pending additional interest in the program, an additional cohort will begin next Fall. To learn more, visit https://www.teachworthy.org/elevate/.