Every child should have not only the teacher they need, but deserve.

In order to ensure this, we must do things differently in how we prepare, recruit, develop and retain our educators. The National Center for Grow Your Own (NCGYO) is committed to creating a world where an aspiring educator can become a teacher for free and get paid to do so.

NCGYO’s leadership team consists of the individuals who created the nation’s first (Tennessee) and second (West Virginia) registered apprenticeship programs in K-12 teaching approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. Our work has been featured in the Washington Post, PBS News Hour, NPR, Education Week, The 74 and many more.

Today, we are working in over 20 states and growing. We also lead the National Registered Apprenticeship in Teaching Network with over 35 states participating. We also have similar networks for districts and teacher preparation providers.

We also led the application process to the U.S. Department of Labor to establish the occupation of a K-12 teacher and K-12 principal as eligible for a registered apprenticeship.

We believe there are great, aspiring educators in our local communities all across the country. Let’s remove the barriers together.

Is your state, district or university next?