The Christian County Public School District has announced board approval to support a teacher Rank change program.
According to a release from the district office, the program is designed to support teacher growth and retention across the district. Teachers on a continuing contract with the school district are eligible.
The $300,000 investment will be funded through available ESSR funds and will allow for up to 25 teachers for the next two years to participate in the program.
ESSER stands for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, a federal program administered by the Department of Education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
District Teacher Recruiter Beverly Fort called the initiative a game changer for many educators in the district. Last year, she told the school board that more incentives would be necessary to retain and attract quality educators to the district.
click to download audioThe Rank change program is a partnership between the school district and the West Kentucky Educational Cooperative and BloomBoard. The cost-effective alternative to earning a Master’s degree can be used to support teachers in earning licensure Rank II or Rank I, while aligning professional learning to their strategic plans.
This is the first partnership between the WKEC and the school district but just the latest program to try and draw quality teachers to Christian County.
In November, officials with Murray State University, Hopkinsville Community College, Rotary of Hopkinsville and the school district announced the inaugural class for Rotary Impact, made possible by efforts like the annual Hopkinsville Rotary Auction.
The process takes interested students in their sophomore, junior and senior years and places them on a teaching pathway through the Gateway Academy. A two-year transition to Hopkinsville Community College, aided by Hopkinsville Rotary, should lead to an associate’s degree — one transferable to Murray State University, where the final two years can be spent working through practicum and student teaching before official certification is awarded.
Fort outlined this recruitment tool when it was announced last year.
click to download audioRecruiting efforts by the school district last year led to nearly two dozen new teachers being hired for the current school year.