Students from Long Beach’s Poly, Millikan and Jordan high schools can take part in a new pathway to obtain careers in education as a result of a new program.
The program, known as “Grow Your Own,” will allow students to enroll in teaching education or child development courses at LBCC for free.
Long Beach Unified School District initiated this program due to a teacher shortage that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. “Grow Your Own” hopes to acquire more teachers in the district by hiring high school students who partake in the program.
The district also hopes the program will diversify its future faculty members since it is reaching out to students in different areas of Long Beach.
“If you look at the current faculty and teachers, they aren’t as diversified as the community,” said Megan Kaplinsky, a professor of education and coordinator of teacher preparation at LBCC.
“We thought we’d drill down to our own diverse group of students to inspire and motivate them to consider teaching pathways and come back to teach in the district,” Kaplinsky said.
Beginning their sophomore year, students can take up to 12 college units in the field of education. After they complete these units and graduate high school, LBUSD will grant them a contract to come back and work for the district.
The contract entails that students will need to receive a Bachelor’s degree and earn their teaching credentials in order to be hired. Students can choose to take careers in teaching, counseling, school psychology or any other administrative roles.
For years, LBCC has offered dual enrollment for high school students, but “Grow Your Own” takes dual enrollment to a new level by offering a guaranteed job after following the pathway.
“There is a college pathway for almost every career area but not for education,” said David Zaid, who is LBUSD’s assistant superintendent of human resources.
“We want to attract students to this field by allowing them to get a head start on classes in high school and start exploring the different careers in teaching.”
“Grow Your Own” has already received an overwhelming response from students wishing to enroll. The district will soft launch the program next spring, with plans of eventually expanding the program to more high schools and increasing enrollment space.
High schools have already begun introducing this program in the classroom, but any Poly, Millikan, or Jordan students who are interested can speak with their counselor.