Homegrown Teacher Academy students attend DCS Board of Education meeting

From Duplin County Schools

Homegrown Teacher Academy students from the University of Mt. Olive attended the DCS March Board of Education meeting along with Dr. Tommy Benson, former superintendent of Duplin County Schools and current Chair of the UMO Department of Education, and Gail Herring, also formerly with Duplin County Schools and currently Assistant Professor of Education at UMO. The Homegrown Teacher Academy is a collaborative program between Duplin County Schools, James Sprunt Community College, and the University of Mount Olive and funded through a grant from the Kenan Charitable Trust and other generous donors.

The purpose of HGTA is to identify, train and keep local teaching talent. The academy identifies students as early as middle school within the Duplin County School system who are interested in becoming teachers. The academy allows these students to obtain college credits while still in high school through James Sprunt Community College and upon graduation from high school complete their teacher education degree at the University of Mount Olive.  Grant money and scholarships help offset the costs for students who, in return, commit to work in Duplin County Schools.

While recruiting and retaining teachers is becoming increasingly difficult across the nation, it can be especially challenging for rural districts. Dr. Benson says, “History has shown that teachers who are recruited from outside rural areas usually leave within two years to go teach in schools in suburban or urban districts where the salaries are higher and there are more opportunities for recreation and entertainment. However, people from rural areas want to remain in those areas.  So, the best prospect for rural school districts to attract and retain teachers is to develop their own. This program helps us do just that.”

Superintendent Dr. Obasohan offered words of gratitude to Benson and Herring for the great work they did while in Duplin County Schools and the work they do through this program to continue to impact our school system. Board Chair Brent Davis added that he greatly appreciated the partnership and Board Member Pam Edwards agreed, “Thank you for what you are doing. You saw the need and a lot of prayers are going to be answered through this.”

While the program has gotten off to a slow start due to hurricanes and the pandemic, there are already three graduates of HGTA working in Duplin County Schools and we look forward to many more!