The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s College of Education & Human Development has secured a significant $3.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Quality Partnership grant program. This funding is aimed at establishing and strengthening a “Grow Your Own Network” throughout Acadiana, a response to the growing teacher shortages in the south-central region of Louisiana.
The initiative seeks to create a regional network that connects local school districts with educational institutions. By doing this, the program aims to develop a sustainable, diverse, and highly skilled teaching workforce. Dr. Aimee Barber, the project lead and assistant professor of curriculum and instruction at UL Lafayette, emphasized the dual purpose of the program: to adequately fill classrooms while ensuring that educators are well-prepared and culturally competent. “This grant will enable us to build a sustainable pipeline for local talent to enter and thrive in the teaching profession, ultimately raising educational outcomes for students across Louisiana,” she stated.
Key collaborators in this endeavor include UL Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College, and public school systems from Lafayette, Vermilion, St. Martin, St. Landry, and St. Mary parishes. The program also engages with various organizations for support, such as Steady State Impact for project evaluations and the Pugh Family Foundation for additional funding. Furthermore, innovative curriculum offerings, developed in partnership with PDK International, and a Teacher Registered Apprenticeship component, supported by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, will be incorporated into the program.
By actively identifying and addressing barriers that prospective educators face, the initiative aims to both expand existing Grow Your Own programs and develop new pathways, with a particular focus on recruiting teachers from underrepresented communities. Dr. Barber highlighted that the program is projected to positively influence over 69,000 pre-K-12 students by training a new generation of educators to cater to the needs of local schools.
“This program represents a holistic approach to tackling the teacher shortage and setting up students for academic success by fostering a reliable teacher pipeline that serves the needs of regional communities,” she added.
This initiative not only addresses the immediate needs of classrooms but also fosters long-term solutions for educational challenges in the region. The collaboration among multiple partners signifies a strong commitment to enhancing educational performance and community support in Acadiana.
In summary, the initiative reflects a promising step towards nurturing local talent and addressing the pressing issue of teacher shortages, ultimately benefitting students and communities across Louisiana.