GCSU Combats the Regional K-12 Teacher Shortage Through "Grow Your Own" Partnership with Baldwin Schools

Georgia College is excited to establish yet another vital regional partnership with the Baldwin County School District. In a significant step toward addressing the ongoing teacher shortage in rural Georgia, Baldwin County Schools launched the "Grow Your Own" Teacher Program. The initiative was developed in collaboration with GCSU and other post-secondary institutions in middle Georgia. “Grow Your Own” aims to create a sustainable model to build a robust teacher pipeline to alleviate the critical shortage of K-12 teachers in the region.

Academic leadership from GCSU, Baldwin County Schools and Central Georgia Tech signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at a ceremony in the Baldwin High School Fine Arts Center Wednesday morning, January 31.

“The signing of the MOU by President Cathy Cox formalizes our goal of cultivating, recruiting, and preparing high quality students who will become well-prepared and committed educators in Baldwin County,” said Dr. Holley Roberts, associate provost and director of The Graduate School at Georgia College.

Roberts added, “This partnership and MOU formalized our commitment to prepare teachers who come from Baldwin County and who will remain in Baldwin County to positively impact student success and promote a vibrant community.”

Collaborating with Baldwin County Schools supports not only the mission of the John H. Lounsbury College of Education, but also aligns with the “Engage” Pillar of the Imagine 2030 Strategic Plan to promote lasting positive change by sustaining meaningful, reciprocal relationships that value and elevate the contributions of all on campus, with local communities, with alumni, and beyond.

The “Grow Your Own” program enables students to graduate from high school with an Associate’s degree or college credits from partner institutions in Middle Georgia. 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 an interview for employment in the Baldwin County School District.

Photo: Georgia College & State University, Baldwin County School District and Central Georgia Technical College at the MOU signing ceremony at the Baldwin High School Fine Arts Center Jan. 31. From left: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Costas Spirou and Georgia College President Cathy Cox, J.D.; Superintendent of Baldwin County Schools Dr. Noris Price and Baldwin County High School Principal Jason Flanders; Central Georgia Technical College President Dr. Ivan Allen and Vice President of Academic Affairs DeAnn Nester.