top of page
Search

Baldwin County School District Partners with Post-Secondary Institutions to Address Teacher Shortage

Writer's picture: EricJonesEricJones


In a significant step toward addressing the ongoing teacher shortage in rural and middle Georgia, the Baldwin County School District has officially launched its "Grow Your Own" Teacher Program. The initiative, developed in collaboration with prominent post-secondary institutions in the middle Georgia region, aims to create a sustainable and replicable model for building a robust teacher pipeline.


On January 31, 2024, at 9:00 am, Georgia College & State University and Central Georgia Technical College will come together for a signing ceremony with the Baldwin County School District at the Baldwin High School Fine Arts Center. Their collaboration underscores the dedication of local post-secondary institutions to actively contribute to the success of the "Grow Your Own" Program.


Earlier in January, Dr. Noris Price, Superintendent of Baldwin County School District, and Jason Flanders, Baldwin High School Principal joined Dr. Christopher Blake, President of Middle Georgia State University, in a signing ceremony on Thursday, January 18, 2024, demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting the innovative program. The signing ceremony marked a crucial milestone in the partnership that seeks to address the critical teacher shortage comprehensively and strategically.


The program's key features include early exposure to the teaching profession for potential middle and high school students through a prescribed Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) pathway. Students enrolled in the CTAE Teaching as a Profession Pathway will have hands-on teaching experiences, as well as the opportunity to have paid work-based learning in a Baldwin County school. 


The program enables students to graduate from high school with an associate's degree or college credits from partner institutions in the middle Georgia region. They will then seamlessly transfer to a partner institution to complete their undergraduate degree in education. Candidates who successfully meet Professional Standards Commission (PSC) requirements (including a background check and passing a GACE ethics test) are eligible for interview for employment in the Baldwin County School District.


Pending approvals from all parties, the Baldwin "Grow Your Own" Teaching as a Profession Pathway is set to be implemented in the 2023-2024 school year, marking a crucial step forward in addressing the critical teacher shortage in rural Georgia.


Additionally, the Baldwin County School District has been awarded a $9,000 GaDOE Cultivating Teachers Grant, providing essential funds for teacher professional learning and recruitment. These funds will support pathway expansion and offer crucial professional learning opportunities for educators involved in the Teaching as a Profession Pathway.


The GaDOE Cultivating Teachers Grant is a testament to the dedication of the Baldwin County School District to providing quality education for all students and addressing the challenges posed by the current teacher shortage. The grant will play a pivotal role in enhancing teacher professional development and recruitment efforts.




91 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


  • YouTube Social  Icon

Contact Us

Address

© Copyright 2021 

Baldwin County Schools

Phone: 478-453-4176

​

110 North ABC St.

Milledgeville, GA 31061

The Baldwin County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, genetics, disability, or sex in its employment practices, student programs and dealings with the public. It is the policy of the Board of Education to comply fully with the requirements of Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and all accompanying regulations.

bottom of page