Jefferson County Public Schools’ Teaching and Learning program is working to produce the next generation of educators to reduce the threat of a national teacher shortage. 

The program allows students to gain teaching experience and up 12 college credit hours that can be used towards an education degree at the University of Louisville. 

Central High School senior DaiYa Thompson smiled as she received her certificate of completion during a ceremony for rising educators students. 

She says the teaching and learning pathway graduate has jumpstarted her career. 

“Just building a connection with people that are younger than me and being an influence to them and just being a leader of positive social change and helping them you know, become better people, it’s just an amazing feeling overall,” says Thompson.

A little over 30 students have graduated from the program since it launched in 2013.

This year, 84 students representing nine schools are completing it and more than half are students of color, making it the largest and most diverse class. 

That’s exciting for Central High program teacher Cordelia Chandler, who came in knowing recruiting minority students would be challenging. 

“Students of color have not always had the most positive experience in education. One of the dilemmas I knew I would have is how do I engage students and advocate for them to come back and work with students of color?” says Chandler. 

Chandler says she focused on creating value and opportunities for students. 

This year’s grads were offered a big opportunity, a guaranteed job with JCPS pending the competition of a teacher preparedness program. 

“It just brings tears to my eyes. It brings so much joy when they figure out what it is that they want to do when you provide the support and resources and they take advantage of them and go on to do some great and amazing things. There’s no greater reward than that,” says Chandler. 

Taylor Utley, the program’s instructional lead, says its teachers like Chandler who are responsible for the influx of participation in the program and Thompson agrees. 

“My teacher has been there every step of the way. Even when I’m drowning when I’m floating, she’s always there to uplift me, pick me up and she’s that support system that I need,” says Thompson. 

Thompson says having a teacher who looks like her makes an enormous impact. 

“It’s just a good feeling to know that someone that looks like me cares about me as much as I care about myself and is willing to put in and make an impact for me,” says Thompson. 

Thompson is eager to one day be that teacher for other minority students. 

They recently added the program to two other schools in the district.