Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced April 25 that Lamar CISD is one of only 25 school districts, universities and education service centers awarded a Texas Education Agency (TEA) 2018-2019 Grow Your Own grant.Grow Your Own grants will be used to encourage high school students to consider teaching as a career, as well as paraprofessionals and/or teacher aides to pursue certification. The grant will also provide support to student teachers during their year-long clinical teaching.

​By the Numbers

Grow Your Own grants will be used in various ways to increase the quality and diversity of Texas’ teachers. It is estimated the grants will provide assistance to help:

• 49 current teachers receive a Master’s in Education, allowing them to teach dual credit Education and Training courses starting with the 2020-2021 school-year;

• 136 paraprofessionals earn a bachelor’s and teacher certifications and be full-time teachers starting with the 2020-2021 school-year;

• 59 paraprofessionals earn a teacher certification and full-time teachers starting with the 2019-2020 school-year;

• 24 teacher candidates to participate in a year-long clinical teaching placement, becoming full-time teachers starting with the 2019-2020 school-year; and

• 59 high schools start or grow education and training programs.