SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A state program that appears to address the teacher shortage that has plagued Utah for years is in jeopardy due to a possible depletion of funds.

The program helps teacher assistants and other school workers earn their teaching credentials.

The program is known as Grow Your Own Teacher Pathway and has helped hundreds of teachers across the state complete the program. Yet it could be in danger if lawmakers don’t act.

Abbie Greer is a third grade teacher at West Weber Elementary School. She knew she wanted to become a teacher, even when she was a child.

“I love it. I love every day I get to go teach kids and be with them every day,” Greer said.

At 22 years old, she obtained her teaching certificate and diploma so early thanks to the Grow Your Own Teacher course. She took her first year of teaching when she was in high school, which saved her a lot of time.

“I only had to do about two years of college, and then I was able to jump straight into teaching. It was a lot easier than having to wait four years to finish,” she said.

The pipeline was created to help underqualified staff, such as teaching assistants and other school workers, obtain their teaching credentials.

The Weber school district is focused on recruiting students into the teaching field — students like Madison Cavender, who now teaches food and sewing classes to eighth and ninth graders.

Cavender said, “I was really inspired by my second grade teacher, Mrs. Benson, who just took care of us. She showed us love and compassion every day, and I was like, “I want to be like that when I grow up.” »

Becky Sagers, career and technical education coordinator for the Weber School District, said the pathway is an effective way to find new teachers.

“I would say we have at least seven in our district who have gone through the educational pathway and are now teaching in our district, for us,” Sagers said.

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Statewide, the course has trained more than 700 future teachers over the past three years. However, a problem looms on the horizon.

Lisa McLachlan, Educator Preparation Coordinator for the Utah State Board of Education, said, “This year we are short on funding for the Grow Your Own program. The (Utah) State School Board has made it a priority list for the upcoming legislative session.

Even with the program, McLachlan said it can still be difficult to find teachers, especially for younger students.

“Right now, our biggest area of ​​critical shortage is actually at the elementary level. We probably have about three percent of our elementary school teachers who are considered ‘underqualified,’ meaning they haven’t completed a preparation program,” she said.

These underqualified teachers are allowed to lead classes while being supervised by more experienced teachers, while continuing to work towards their degree.

McLachlan said: “I know that when schools hire teachers who are not fully qualified, they take on that responsibility. They will help them acquire the knowledge and skills they need.

In addition to finding new teachers, the Grow Your Own program has recruited more than 200 future counselors and 20 school social workers.

McLachlan said he hopes the Legislature will renew its funding, especially since Gov. Spencer Cox has provided support in the past.

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