Teacher shortages are hurting school districts across the state, but Hardin County Schools has a program aimed at turning that trend around and putting high school seniors on a path back to the classroom.
In a special ceremony Wednesday, seniors from various Hardin County high schools lined up to sign a contract, saying that Hardin County Schools will pay them $350 per class they take wherever they go to college for as long as they are working on a bachelor’s degree in education. In return, that student must teach for Hardin County Schools for a least three years after graduation. And if they attend Western Kentucky University, WKU will pay for another $350 toward each class, meaning two-thirds of the cost will be covered.
There were 14 students who took dual credit teacher education classes at Hardin County Schools’ Early College and Career Center (EC3) as part of a relatively new “Grow Your Own” program.
Dan Robbins, principal of the EC3 program, said he believes this program will reverse the teacher shortage and will get future educators off to a great start. When they walk out of high school, they are graduates of Elizabethtown Community and Technical College with their associate’s degree and they can walk right into Western Kentucky University’s teacher education program ready to start.
With more than 30 positions currently open within Hardin County Schools, Robbins feels the investment will pay off in the long run.
Source: WDRB
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