À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Grow Your Own
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ’s Grow Your Own Initiatives are strengthening Tennessee’s educator workforce through mentorship, workforce pathways, and innovative educator preparation partnerships. 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:
What is Grow Your Own?
Grow Your Own (GYO) is an educator workforce strategy that develops teachers from within local communities. Through partnerships among school districts, universities, mentors, and state agencies, Grow Your Own pathways reduce barriers to becoming a teacher while strengthening long-term educator retention.Ìý
At the University of Tennessee System, Grow Your Own initiatives support aspiring educators through:Ìý
- Job-embedded teacher preparationÌýÌý
- Mentorship and coachingÌýÌý
- Registered teacher apprenticeship partnershipsÌýÌý
- Competency-based and flexible learning pathwaysÌýÌý
- Resources for districts, mentors, and educator preparation providers (EPPs)ÌýÌý
This work aligns with the University of Tennessee System’s commitment to strengthening Tennessee communities through workforce development and educational access.Ìý
Our Mission
To strengthen Tennessee’s educator workforce by expanding access to high-quality, community-rooted teacher pathways through collaboration, mentorship, and workforce innovation.
Strategic GoalsÌý
- Expand access to educator pathways for working learnersÌýÌý
- StrengthenÌýmentorship and educator support systemsÌýÌý
- Support À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ educator preparation programs and district partnershipsÌýÌý
- Advance competency-based and work-based learning modelsÌýÌý
- Share scalable resources and research that strengthen Tennessee’s educator workforceÌý
A History of Impact
TheÌýTennesseeÌýGrow Your OwnÌýCenterÌý(2022–2025)
From 2022–2025, the University of Tennessee System’s Grow Your Own CenterÌýsupported Tennessee’s statewide Grow Your Own educator workforce initiative through partnerships with school districts, educator preparation providers, and state agencies.Ìý
During this period, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ supported:Ìý
- Expansion of registered teacher apprenticeship pathwaysÌýÌý
- Development of mentorship and professional learning networksÌýÌý
- Creation of competency-based educator preparation resourcesÌýÌý
- TechnicalÌýassistanceÌýfor districts and universitiesÌýÌý
- Research, data collection, and statewide collaboration effortsÌýÌý
AddÌýMetrics BlockÌýtoÌýinclude:Ìý
- 1,200+ enrollmentsÌýÌý
- 200+ completersÌýÌý
- 90%+ retentionÌýÌý
- 96 LEA partnersÌýÌý
- 14 EPP partnersÌýÌý
How À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Continues the Work Across Tennessee
Today, the University of Tennessee System continues to support educator workforce development through mentorship initiatives, educator preparation partnerships, open educational resources, and workforce pathway innovation.Ìý
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ continues to serve Tennessee by:Ìý
- Supporting À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ educator preparation programsÌýÌý
- Providing mentorship and leadership development through the CollaboratoryÌýÌý
- Expanding access to competency-based learning resourcesÌýÌý
- Sharing tools and implementation resources for districts and universitiesÌýÌý
- Supporting workforce-aligned pathways for working learnersÌýÌý
This work reflects À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ’s broader commitment to workforce development, rural communities, and educationalÌýopportunityÌýacross Tennessee.ÌýÌý
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Educator Preparation Programs Supporting Aspiring Teachers
Tennessee’s University of Tennessee (À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ) 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 À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ faculty and workplace mentors.
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville (À¶Ý®ÊÓƵK)
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵK offers multiple, flexible pathways to educator licensure—undergraduate, post-baccalaureate (including a job-embedded route), and non-credit professional options. 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.
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga (À¶Ý®ÊÓƵC)
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵC’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.
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Southern (À¶Ý®ÊÓƵS)
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, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Southern is expanding access to teacher preparation and strengthening the pipeline of community-rooted educators across southern Middle Tennessee.
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Martin (À¶Ý®ÊÓƵM)
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵM 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. À¶Ý®ÊÓƵM 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.