The Grow Your Own Teacher program has been a partnership between the not-for-profit Fort Zumwalt Education Foundation, Fort Zumwalt staff and our community since 2005. Together they have created a fund that supports selected FZSD graduates who want to teach in high-needs areas through forgivable loans toward their tuition. Examples of high-needs areas include world languages, secondary science or math, special education, Speech-Language Pathologist or industrial technology.
The foundation has even expanded to create a Grow Your Own Paraprofessional award, open to employees currently working in the district as Paraprofessionals. The award helps selected recipients finish their education and certification process.
Recently a wall of honor was unveiled at our Professional Development Center, recognizing all of our Grow Your Own Teachers. Currently, 19 of the program’s graduates serve in our classrooms. One serves as an instructional coach and one serves as an assistant principal. Seven more are finishing college. Students interested in the program should talk to their counselors when school starts and watch for the application to open this fall.
Above: Some of our veteran teachers who went through the program. Below, current participants, and a group shot including founders of the FZ Education Foundation.
