LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There’s a unique program that aims to put more teachers in the classroom. It’s called the Louisville Teacher Residency Program offered by Jefferson County Public Schools.

On Thursday, May 16, after a year-long study, 38 adult students graduated, becoming teachers.

What You Need To Know

  • After a year-long study, 38 adult students graduated from a new teaching residency program offered by Jefferson County Public Schools 

  • It's called the Louisville Teacher Residency Program and was created to recruit and train more teachers of color for JCPS classrooms
  • Adult students who graduated earned their Master’s degrees in one year

  • In 2020, JCPS’ Teacher Residency Training Program was created after the district implemented its racial equity policy

The Louisville Teacher Residency Program was established to recruit and train more teachers of color for JCPS classrooms in schools needing the most support.

“Like in my case, my background was automotive. I spent 30 years in automotive, the automotive, retail and wholesale and but I’ve always wanted to do something with the little kids,” said Delondo Miles, a graduate of the program.

Miles is 50 years old and living out that age-old saying. “From under the hood, into the classroom. That is great. That’s exactly right,” Miles said.

He’s part of the Louisville Resident Program and now becoming a teacher.

“Working in the automotive field, and especially a lot of years in retail, I’ve already dealt with the public and people and different personalities, and the kids are the same way. There are different personalities, different ideas, things, different things that bring to the table and I can deal with those accordingly,” Miles said.

For the school year, he taught fourth-grade elementary through his mentor teacher, Leah Goins, who trained two male student teachers.

“Especially the two that I had, they were great, and it was just a really positive experience with the children and having a male role model as their teacher in elementary because they don’t get that opportunity very often,” Goins said.

For Miles, it goes beyond representation.

“I think the little boys and girls need to see somebody, a positive role model that’s not in the sports, just not, you know, in the music or anything like that. Just a regular, everyday person,” Miles said.

An everyday person who can share some wisdom with the next generation of students.

“They didn’t know who Bugs Bunny was when I first started. I made a Bugs Bunny reference, and I was like, okay, I realize I’m older than probably their grandparents, you know?” Miles said.

The program began in 2020 and the 38 adult students who graduated earned their Master’s degrees in one year.

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