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.
The program’s growth and national attention are due to the thoughtfully designed partnerships with school districts, Tennessee community colleges, and internal partners at Austin Peay.
“Great things that happen at universities don’t happen by accident,” said Dr. John R. McConnell III, interim dean of the Eriksson College of Education. “They happen because of leadership at all levels. In my time at APSU, I have come to realize how fortunate we are to have such great partners and for opportunities like the one we have today.”
Breaking down teaching barriers
The program’s structure allows participants to earn while they learn. School districts and Austin Peay cover tuition through federal and state funding, and teacher residents work full-time as educational assistants during the day.
Along the way, students attend 60 credit hours of evening or online classes through Nashville State Community College or Volunteer State Community College before transferring to Austin Peay.
“This is always such an exciting moment for us, and not just because we’re welcoming a new group of students, but because we’re helping launch the careers of future educators who will go on to shape lives, strengthen communities and make a lasting impact in the classroom,” said Telaina Wrigley, director/associate dean of Dickson and Humphreys County campuses for Nashville State Community College.
School districts provide wraparound supports to set up teacher residents for success, with dedicated mentor teachers, Praxis study support and more. The Grow Your Own Teacher Residency model supports the growth and learning of the districts’ students by equipping their teachers.
“In a time of national and local teacher shortages, you see it everywhere — on the news, on TikTok and on Facebook,” said Dr. Schanda Doughty, chief academic officer for Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools. “There are 40,000 kiddos in our community that are counting on us to get this right and we can’t let them down. And it starts right here … with [students] who have stepped up to say, ‘I can, and I will.’”
Looking forward
As the program grows, organizers anticipate expanding to more counties and increasing enrollment capacity.
“We’re not just filling teacher vacancies,” said Amber Button, coordinator of teacher residencies at Austin Peay. “We’re building a pipeline of passionate, qualified educators who reflect our student populations and understand the unique needs of their communities.”
For more information about the Grow Your Own Teacher Residency program, visit apsu.edu/education/grow-your-own or contact the Eriksson College of Education at 931-221-7514.
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