Vicksburg Warren School District joins “Grow Your Own”
By Vicksburg Warren School District
Office of Communications
Dr. Ben Burnett, William Carey University’s executive vice president, joined Jim Stirgus Jr., board president of the Vicksburg Warren School District, and Superintendent Chad Shealy April 14 to sign a memorandum of agreement for the “Grow Your Own” partnership.
Grow Your Own is one of several William Carey initiatives launched to help solve Mississippi’s critical teacher shortage.
“This program is important to Warren County and to the entire state,” Burnett said.
“WCU has found a way to address the teacher shortage by providing students with the opportunities and support they need to graduate college with a bachelor’s degree in education in only three years. They are working as full-time teachers in the classroom and making a difference for students a year sooner.”
The Grow Your Own program allows K-12 public school districts to select students for a fast-track WCU program that will enable them to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in three years through a combination of dual enrollment classes, an accelerated schedule and tuition waivers.
In their second and third year, students in this program take classes and, at the same time, work as teacher assistants. This has several benefits, including: 1) they enter the state retirement system early; 2) they earn an income while working on their degrees; and 3) they qualify for 50 percent tuition waivers from WCU.
“The partnership with William Carey fits perfectly with our vision to graduate all our students college-, career- and life-prepared. Our students who are called to serve as teachers are given a head start and are ready to pursue their dreams,” Superintendent Chad Shealy said.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to grow and support our own future workforce and employ teachers with deep ties to the community and a passion for doing what is right for children.”
In the photo: Superintendent Chad Shealy, Jim Stirgus Jr., board president of the Vicksburg Warren School District, and Dr. Ben Burnett of William Carey University sign the Grow Your Own partnership agreement.