Grow Your Own Center
Grow Your Own is transforming teacher development in Tennessee by helping educators already working in their communities become licensed teachers. Through accessible certification pathways, financial aid and hands-on learning, the program supports aspiring teachers while strengthening schools and addressing teacher shortages.
Contact
Have questions about the Tennessee Grow Your Own program? Please contact us at:
Our Mission
Grow Your Own seeks to address teacher shortages by creating accessible, sustainable and community-driven solutions. Through partnerships with school districts, universities, and state and national agencies, we help individuals gain the credentials needed to teach while reducing financial and logistical barriers.
A History of Impact
Grow Your Own seeks to address teacher shortages by creating accessible, sustainable and community-driven solutions. Through partnerships with school districts, universities, and state and national agencies, we help individuals gain the credentials needed to teach while reducing financial and logistical barriers.
Early Beginnings to Ongoing Investments
- Early Beginnings: The Grow Your Own concept originated as a way to support paraprofessionals, career changers and students in obtaining teaching credentials without leaving their communities.
- Expansion and Statewide Adoption: Tennessee formalized its approach, integrating Grow Your Own into state education policy and partnering with higher education institutions to offer structured pathways.
- Apprenticeship Model: In recent years, Tennessee became the first state to establish federally recognized teacher apprenticeship programs, creating a nationally recognized model for sustainable teacher development.
- Continued Growth: Ongoing investments and partnerships continue to refine and expand Grow Your Own, ensuring more accessible, affordable and effective teacher preparation programs.
Pathways to Teaching
Grow Your Own offers multiple pathways to help individuals enter the teaching profession and various support materials to universities and school districts. Explore the options below to find the support you need.
Aspiring Apprentices
LEA Apprentice Recruitment Proces
Teaching as a Profession
Education Preparation Providers
Resources and Partnerships
Data and Publications
How It Works
Grow Your Own provides:
- Tuition Assistance – Financial support for individuals pursuing teaching certification.
- Work- and Competency-Based Learning – Hands-on experience in classrooms while completing coursework.
- Mentorship and Support – Guidance from experienced educators to ensure success.
- Community Collaboration – Strong partnerships between school districts and higher education institutions.
Get Involved
Whether you’re an aspiring teacher, school district administrator or university representative, Grow Your Own is ready to support you. Explore your next step.
Aspiring Teachers
Ready to start your journey?
School Districts
Interested in partnering with Grow Your Own?
Educator Preparation Providers
Learn how your institution can support future teachers.
Explore BuildWithin
The Tennessee Grow Your Own Center’s technology partner, BuildWithin, is your all-in-one cloud-based platform for teacher apprenticeships. BuildWithin offers a comprehensive suite of features tailored to teacher apprentices enrolled at four-year universities, as well as the educator preparation providers, school districts and teacher mentors who support them.