GLENVILLE, WV – Last month, Glenville State University welcomed nearly 100 high school students for “Grow Your Own” Day. The event was designed to bring Grow Your Own partner schools together for a day on Glenville State’s campus. The collaborative event was organized by staff in the GSU Department of Education, Off-Campus Programs Office, and the Office of Admissions.
Grow Your Own (GYO) West Virginia is designed to recognize promising local high school students and facilitate a career path for them to pursue a career in education. The “GYO West Virginia Teaching Pathway” is designed to address West Virginia’s critical teacher shortage. Through the program, high school students who wish to become classroom teachers can fast-track into their careers through a combination of dual enrollment/Advanced Placement courses, and an accelerated pathway. Through this pathway, students can graduate from a partner institution of higher education, such as Glenville State University, with a bachelor’s degree in just three years.
“The ‘GSU Grow Your Own Day’ on campus was a wonderful opportunity to bring all of our partners together for a day of networking and getting to know each other. We appreciate the collaboration and excitement from our county partners, as well as the support and guidance from the West Virginia Department of Education,” said Glenville State University’s Dean of Education, Connie Stout O’Dell.
High school students, teachers, and administrators from Braxton, Calhoun, Fayette, Gilmer, Jackson, Lewis, Nicholas, Pleasants, Pocahontas, and Ritchie counties attended the event.
Throughout the day, attendees visited various classrooms and participated in activities including a STEM activity in an Organization and Administration of Early Education Programs course, a hands-on learning activity in a Foundations of Education course, and a hands-on learning activity in a Physical Education in Elementary Schools course. The students also toured campus and enjoyed lunch. During the lunch, they heard from several Glenville State representatives and special guests Dr. Carla Warren, Director of the West Virginia Department of Education Office of Educator Development and Support, and Dr. Sara Lewis-Stankus, Deputy Superintendent with the West Virginia Department of Education.
“The West Virginia Department of Education was honored to visit the Glenville State University campus to celebrate Grow Your Own students from ten counties. This partnership creates optimal conditions for West Virginia students to pursue a career in education by removing barriers and increasing wrap-around supports that ensure success and strengthens the teacher pipeline in our state,” Warren said.
“We at Glenville State are proud that the West Virginia Department of Education took notice of our Teach 1-2-3 program and used that inspiration to craft the statewide Grow Your Own program to address the critical teacher shortage across the state. We are also proud of each and every one of the students participating in the program and of the role we have had and will have in their journeys to becoming credentialed teachers,” said Glenville State’s Associate Provost, Dr. Mari Clements.
“The West Virginia State Department of Education is proud to partner with Glenville State University. The Grow Your Own program holds immense promise, and our future teachers are the torchbearers of a brighter future for West Virginia’s classrooms and communities. By working collaboratively, we can pave the way for success in education and beyond,” said Lewis-Stankus.
For more information about the education programs at Glenville State University, visitwww.glenville.edu/education or contact the Office of Admissions at (800) 924-2010.
