The President of the National Education Association described the state of the teacher shortage in America as a five-alarm crisis. Local school districts are tapping into a new program to be part of the solution to get students interested in the profession once again.
“I want to be a teacher when I grow up,” said Gateway High School senior Ashlee Young.
Ashlee just started her senior year at Gateway High School with the hopes of returning to this school as an educator.
“It’s really because I have had great teachers here,” said Young. “I just think if I can be a part of that and be a teacher and be one of color then I think it will be awesome.”
Gateway’s Teacher Academy inspired Young. Mark Spinola, a social studies teacher, brought a “Grow Your Own” teacher program to Gateway about three years ago. It’s not only designed to bring educators back to the profession but also to ensure students see themselves in their teachers.
“The idea sort of was to take the diverse pool of students that we do have at Gateway and see if we have anyone here who would make a good teacher,” said Gateway High School Social Studies Teacher Mark Spinola.