Grow Your Own Pathway

Designed to address West Virginia's critical need for teachers, Grow Your Own Pathway to Teaching programs provide promising high school students a career path to pursue a career in education.

Benefits

There are many reasons to join the Grow Your Own Program.

Early start on college.
Reduced time to complete a bachelor's degree.
Introduction to the education profession.
Classroom observations and field experiences before college.
Core Praxis exam for students in Year 2 (senior year) free of cost.
Ability to earn salary, benefits, and seniority in residency year.
Reduced cost (Students receive tuition free dual credit courses in the 2022-23 year.)

How it Works

The Grow Your Own Pathway gives students a fast-track into the education field through a combination of dual enrollment/Advanced Placement courses and an accelerated pathway. Students can then graduate with a bachelor's degree in just three years.

High School

High School counselors and partnering institution faculty advisors will assist with scheduling, financial aid, testing requirements, etc. to enroll in the teaching pathway. The goal is for students to graduate high school with a minimum of 30 hours of dual enrollment/AP credits, including the four introductory education courses. Participants will enter college classified as a sophomore. During their junior and senior years of high school, students will have the opportunity to spend time in real-time classrooms in their home county schools.

Apprenticeship Model

Designed to provide paid, on the job training, the WV Apprenticeship Model provides Grow Your Own students with wage-earning field experiences, preparing them for the teaching career while alleviating financial burdens. Students who have graduated high school and complete the Youth Apprenticeship are certified as a Teacher Apprentice by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Free Resource

Download our guide to the West Virginia Apprenticeship Model.

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Pilot Counties

Grow Your Own Programs are being piloted in these 37 West Virginia counties.

Berkeley, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Doddridge^*, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Jackson^*, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lincoln^*, Logan, Mason^*, Mcdowell, Mingo, Monroe^*, Morgan^*, Nicholas, Pendleton^*, Pleasants, Putnam, Randolph^*, Ritchie^*, Summers, Tyler, Wayne, and Webster^*.

^* Pilot begins fall 2023.

Pilot (29)

Pilot and Apprenticeship (8)

Sample Pathway

The following course menu is a guidance template for students participating in the Grow Your Own teaching pathway with the goal to exit high school with a minimum of one year of college credit (24-30) hours toward a Bachelor's Degree in education.

Highlighted courses are guaranteed transferable between participating institutions in the Grow Your Own WV Teaching Pathway network. Students should consult with their chosen post-secondary educational institution when choosing other course options and electives. For specific information, refer to individual county plans.

Teaching Pathway 2022-2033: Student Sample Courses
Grade	English Language Arts ^1,² (4 courses)	Math ^1,² (4 courses)	Science ^1,² (4 courses)	Social Studies ^1,² (4 courses)	Other ^1,² (4 courses)	Required Dual Credit Core Courses for GYO WV ^1,² (4 courses)
9	English 9	Math I or Algebra I	Earth and Space Science	World Studies or AP Social Studies	World Languages Elective	1306 Introduction to Education and the Classroom ^{3, 4} 1307 Introduction to Child Development ^{3, 4} 1308 Introduction to Educational Psychology ^{3, 4} 1309 Introduction to Social Emotional and Behavioral Wellness ^{3, 4}
10	English 10	Math II or Geometry	AP or Dual Credit Biology ⁴	AP/Dual Credit U.S. Studies Comprehensive or U.S. History ⁴	The Arts
11	English 11: AP or Dual Credit English ⁴	Math III or Algebra II	Chemistry or AP or Dual Credit Chemistry	AP/Dual Credit U.S. Studies Comprehensive or U.S. History	Physical Education
12	English 12: AP or Dual Credit English ⁴	Dual Credit College Algebra; or AP Calculus ⁴	Dual Credit Physical Science	AP or Dual Credit Psychology	Health BCA 1 (Business Computer Application) Other AP or Dual Credit Course
¹ A minimum of 22 total credits required for high school graduation per WVBE Policy 2510 (counties may require additional credits).
² AP or Dual credit can replace any course.
³ or equivalent courses as determined by county plan.
⁴ Guaranteed transferable between participating institutions in the Grow Your Own WV Teaching Pathway network.

Completion of the Grow Your Own teaching pathway should be listed on the final transcript. Support for Praxis preparation, including practice tests and financial support to cover the cost of testing, is available. For specific information, refer to individual county plans.

Free Praxis Preparation with Study.com!

Grow Your Own students will have free 12-month access to Praxis prep resources courtesy of Study.com. Only 400 licenses will be provided, and they will go fast! Contact your county Grow Your Own instructor for more information!

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