(LUKE PIERCE/WCLU NEWS)
Frankfort, Ky. – Barren County Schools was among nine other schools districts in the Commonwealth to receive the Grow-Your-Own program grant. The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) announced the recipients Monday at a press conference. Barren County as well as all other recipients will receive a one-time, $50,000 grant. The Grow-Your-Own program is designed to recruit, develop and retain teachers who already involved in the school or community but may not have considered teaching as a profession. Or, they may need additional support to enter the profession.
The grant will serve Barren County High School. The nine other districts to receive the grant include:
- Bullitt County: Bullitt Central High School, North Bullitt High School and Bullitt East High School
- Corbin Independent: Corbin High School
- Greenup County: Greenup County High School
- Hardin County: Central Hardin High School
- Jefferson County: Ballard High School, Central High School Magnet Career Center, Butler Traditional High School, Doss High School, Fairdale High School, Jeffersontown High School, Louisville Male High School, Marion C. Moore High School, Pleasure Ridge Park High School, Seneca High School and Waggener High School
- Nelson County: Nelson County High School and Thomas Nelson High School
- Owensboro Independent: Owensboro High School
- Spencer County: Spencer County High School
- Whitley County: Whitley County High School
Byron Darnall, associate commissioner in KDE’s Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness, said, “Grow-Your-Own grants can help eliminate obstacles that future educators may face.”
“Local schools and districts are uniquely suited to provide this opportunity to employees that may already be active in schools but lack full certification” Darnall said.
Recruitment of new teachers to the profession is vital to address significant teacher shortages and expand teacher workforce diversity in the state.