Grow Your Own Center
Grow Your Own is transforming workforce development in Tennessee by serving working learners and employers in communities across the state. Through accessible certification pathways, creative funding models and hands-on learning, the program supports both employers and working learners while strengthening Tennessee’s workforce.
Contact
Have questions about the Tennessee Grow Your Own program? Please contact us at:
Important Update
Beginning July 1, all inquiries about the state-sponsored Registered Teacher Apprenticeship, including those from aspiring apprentices, EPPs and school districts, should be directed to GrowYourOwn@tn.gov.
Our Mission
Grow Your Own seeks to strengthen Tennessee’s workforce by creating accessible, sustainable and community-driven solutions. Through partnerships with employer partners, universities, and state and national agencies, we help individuals gain the credentials and skills they need to advance their careers while reducing financial and logistical barriers.
A History of Impact
Grow Your Own is transforming workforce development in Tennessee by supporting working learners and employers in communities across the state. Through accessible certification pathways, creative funding models, and hands-on learning, GYO empowers individuals to advance their careers while strengthening Tennessee’s workforce. This report highlights the impact of GYO when the GYO Center was launched, illustrating how the program creates meaningful opportunities for learners, meets employer needs, and builds stronger communities.
- Continued Growth: Ongoing investments and partnerships continue to refine and expand Grow Your Own pathways, ensuring more accessible, affordable and effective programs for working learners. This helps close that gap by creating clear, supported pathways from employment to in-demand careers — all while learners stay in their jobs.
UT Educator Preparation Programs Supporting Aspiring Teachers
Tennessee’s University of Tennessee (UT) educator preparation programs (EPPs) are equipping aspiring teachers with the skills, knowledge, and practical experience needed to thrive in classrooms across the state. Through flexible coursework aligned with job-embedded roles, learners gain hands-on experience while completing their degrees. Every program is designed to meet the demands of in-demand jobs in Tennessee, and learners benefit from guidance from both UT faculty and workplace mentors.
UT Knoxville (UTK)
UTK offers multiple, flexible pathways to educator licensure—undergraduate, post-baccalaureate (including a job-embedded route), and non-credit professional options. UT-PLAYS is a fully online, asynchronous program that leads to endorsements in Special Education (Comprehensive K–12; Interventionist K–8 or 6–12) and Mathematics (6–8 or 6–12). Together, these pathways meet candidates where they are and move them efficiently toward the classroom.
UT Chattanooga (UTC)
UTC’s program pairs aspiring teachers with experienced mentors in local schools, ensuring on-the-job learning is connected directly to coursework. The program focuses on addressing teacher shortages in high-need subject areas and schools.
UT Southern (UTS)
The University of Tennessee Southern has seen significant growth in its Educator Preparation Program through the Grow Your Own (GYO) initiative. Designed for working learners, the program offers flexible hybrid, weekend, and summer coursework that allows teaching assistants and other school staff to earn licensure while continuing to work in their schools. By aligning pathways with district needs and building strong partnerships with local school systems, UT Southern is expanding access to teacher preparation and strengthening the pipeline of community-rooted educators across southern Middle Tennessee.
UT Martin (UTM)
UTM supports aspiring educators through its Department of Educational Studies and campuswide Educator Preparation Program (EPP), offering state-approved, CAEP-aligned licensure pathways with robust clinical experiences, including a semester-long student-teaching placement. UTM also provides flexible entry points, such as a Job-Embedded Practitioner Licensure route and a Special Education Add-On Academy and strengthens the pipeline with initiatives like Call Me MiSTER, which recruits and supports future teachers from underrepresented backgrounds. Together, these programs prepare graduates to enter classrooms ready to make an impact across West Tennessee and beyond.
How It Works
Grow Your Own provides:
- Financial Model – Financial models for individuals pursuing degrees.
- 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 employers and universities.