CLARKSVILLE, TN − Austin Peay State University’s Eriksson College of Education celebrated the future of Tennessee education with its annual Grow Your Own Teacher Residency signing events, hosted July 21-22 in the Morgan University Center Ballroom.
The ceremonies welcomed 48 new teacher residents from rural counties (Cheatham, Hickman and Robertson) and Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools who are starting their journeys to become certified teachers while earning full-time pay and tuition-free degrees.
Program growth
Now in its seventh year, the Grow Your Own Teacher Residency program continues to expand across Tennessee. The innovative model has been recognized as the first federally registered teacher apprenticeship by the U.S. Department of Labor and includes over 180 participants from eight school districts.
During the two-day event, teacher residents from Cheatham, Hickman, Robertson and Montgomery counties signed employment contracts with their school districts. This marked the beginning of their three-year commitment to serve as educational assistants while pursuing K-5 elementary education bachelor’s degrees through Austin Peay’s accelerated program…