FORTVILLE – A new program to encourage, mentor and train young teachers is launching through Mt. Vernon Community Schools.

The school corporation announced this week that it is among the list recipients of a statewide grant that will help attract and retain staff.

Mt. Vernon will use the funding in partnership with Ball State University for a “grow your own” type of program, which will offer more dual enrollment opportunities for students hoping to go into the teaching profession with the hope that they will come back to teach Mt. Vernon after they’ve earned a collegiate degree.

“This enriched opportunity will provide something for our students to help them thrive as young professionals and it is certainly an enhancement to our programs we’re providing to our students,” said Dr. Jack Parker, superintendent of MV schools.

Statewide, the Indiana Department of Education announced $10.6 million in funding to go to local schools and university partnerships.

Ball State University was awarded $2.17 million to partner with Mt. Vernon, as well as Hamilton Heights School Corporation, Sheridan Community Schools, Westfield-Washington Schools, Anderson Community Schools, Muncie Community Schools, New Castle Community School Corporation and Perry Central Schools.

Parker said it is uncertain how much of the grant funding MV will receive through BSU, but school officials are planning to start identifying juniors and seniors next semester that would benefit from mentoring and dual credit for education degrees.

Dual credit allows students to receive not only credit to go toward high school graduation, but also toward a college degree. Even though BSU was awarded the grant, students will not be required to attend BSU in order to stay in the MV program, Parker said. Rather many colleges would accept dual credit degrees.

Still, Parker said MV is partnering with BSU because of its strong education program.

Ultimately, a student who earns a college degree could come back to Mt. Vernon for a job interview. If they land the job, Parker said they will receive additional mentorship and support for two years as new teachers.

Parker said teachers thrive and grow in their first year or two of teaching, and providing mentorship and guidance can only help attract and retain them.

“With our teacher shortage, we need to encourage more to go into this amazing profession as well as in order to retain teachers and employees they’re more likely to stay in an area they live, and want to live and have lived,” Parker said.

Part of the grant dollars, Parker said, will go toward compensating a “master teacher” for the program, someone who has experience and a good track record of helping others.

“These students and someday teachers will be able to get started planning and preparing for their teaching career even earlier with support and time and preparation,” Parker said.

Mt. Vernon is not the only school corporation in Hancock County to receive this grant from the DOE.

Southern Hancock Community School Corporation is also included a grant award to University of Indianapolis. SH was in a group of 11 school corporations in the Indianapolis area for a grant to University of Indianapolis for just over $712,000.

Information on how Southern Hancock will use the funding was not available at press time, due to the school corporation’s fall break.

Statewide, the DOE grant of $10.6 million is supporting schools and educators in 29 Indiana counties. Funding for the grant is allocated as part of the state’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.

According to the DOE, available funding grew from $5 million to $10.6 million due to an overwhelming number of strong applications.

“The recipients of this grant understand the challenges of today’s labor market and know that schools and community partners must work together to fund creative methods for recruiting and retaining Indiana’s very best educators,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana secretary of education, in a press release. “Whether through the expansion of registered apprenticeships, Grow Your Own programs, or partnerships with local and national higher education providers, the innovative solutions funded by this grant will provide important support for Indiana educators and students.”
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