Grow Your Own: Diversifying the Teacher Workforce in Rhode Island

Grow Your Own (GYO) is a nationwide teacher preparation strategy focused on developing and retaining teachers from the local community. GYO is often used to address teacher shortages and increase the diversity of the teacher workforce.

Grow Your Own (GYO) is a nationwide teacher preparation strategy focused on developing and retaining teachers from the local community. GYO is often used to address teacher shortages and increase the diversity of the teacher workforce.

Here in Rhode Island, The Feinstein School of Education and Human Development (FSEHD) at Rhode Island College (RIC) has established a Grow Your Own (GYO) Equity Fellows Program. With a sizable two-year financial commitment from the Rhode Island Foundation—almost $300,000—they are partnering with three urban core districts: Central Falls (in this photo), Pawtucket, and Providence.