Henrico selects 12 'Teacher Scholars' — conditional hiring, one-time bonus and three-year return commitment

Henrico County Public Schools announced 12 high school students as this year's Teacher Scholars, a "grow your own" recruitment initiative designed to expand the local teacher pipeline by offering selected students conditional employment and support.

"The Teacher Scholars Program began in 2015 to address staffing needs and the increasing demand for highly qualified teachers in critical shortage teaching areas," said Kenya Jackson, the district's talent acquisition ambassador. Jackson told the board that the selected students will receive an offer of employment contingent upon completing an accredited college teaching program and earning their teaching license, and that each scholar is expected to return to Henrico for a three-year commitment.

Jackson said the scholars will receive a one-time hiring bonus and that the program has placed nearly 200 participants over its history, with 21 currently working in division schools. The district highlighted that this year's cohort includes students from multiple high schools and career/technical centers.

District officials described the program as one method of addressing staffing shortages by recruiting and supporting local students into teaching careers, but the board did not take any formal action on the program at the meeting.

The district plans to follow up with program participants and continue outreach to expand access to the Teacher Scholars initiative.