Danville Public Schools outlines 'Grow Your Own' teacher and administrator pipelines

Danville Public Schools presented details of its Grow Your Own teacher and administrator apprenticeship pathways designed to address local staffing shortages by training employees and community members already connected to district schools.

"This work is about building long term capacity, addressing staffing needs, and investing in people who are already committed to our students, our schools, and our division," said Anastasia Bermel, director of leadership development, describing the two pathways and the program's earn‑while‑you‑learn structure.

Presenters said the model requires candidates to complete required coursework and licensure assessments with the Virginia Department of Education; participants who complete the program are guaranteed a district teaching or administrative position in return for a three‑year stay agreement. The district reported two pathways: a parent‑to‑pro teacher pathway and an administrative apprenticeship. The first cohort includes five peer professionals (three in student teaching), a second cohort of two began coursework in 2025, and three administrative apprentices were selected from about 45 applicants.

Several participants described their experiences. "If not for the Grow Your Own grant, continuing this path would have been far more difficult for me," said Lauren Dix, an instructional peer professional who recently began student teaching. Another participant, Christie Mayo, described the grant helping cover licensure exam costs and study materials and called the support "vital" to pursuing a teaching career.

Presenters projected the program will yield three new teachers by the 2026–27 school year and additional hires by spring 2027, while emphasizing that future cohorts depend on available grant opportunities from the Virginia Department of Education. Board members largely praised the program and asked about retention strategies for other candidates; presenters described school‑level development, leadership team opportunities and summer experiences as ways to grow internal talent.