ALLEN COUNTY — Ten Allen County educators met Tuesday for a “signing day” to officially mark their journey to better skills and higher pay.
The district is the latest to partner with BloomBoard, a talent development program centered around self-paced education instruction, to help teachers reach Rank 1 or 2 certification status through the Grow Your Own initiative.
Superintendent Travis Hamby said each teacher receives a $4,000 subsidy from the district, cutting the program’s cost in half. Educators can complete the program over one to four years and will qualify for a pay increase upon completion.
“This investment for us is really about ultimately supporting our educators and their growth and development,” Hamby said. “We know that as they grow professionally, their teaching is improved and ultimately our students reap the reward of that in the classroom.”
Teachers are required to spend at least four years teaching in the district upon completion or pay back a portion of that investment. Hamby said in addition to helping in the classroom, the partnership retains educators during an ongoing shortage of certified staff.
Leslie Stovall, a business teacher at Allen County-Scottsville High School, and her husband Logan Stovall, an engineering teacher, were both among the newest BloomBoard cohort.
The couple are also parents to two young boys – a 5-year-old and a 19-month-old. Leslie Stovall said the flexibility of BloomBoard’s program works great for her busy schedule and the district’s investment is “relieving.”
“I want to be able to get this done quickly so I can enjoy (my kids) while they’re growing up, so my plan is to get it done within a year,” Stovall said. “I loved that they have coaches and mentors and are just really hands on to help me be successful.”
Many educators like Stovall have already begun their work through the program, through the signing day gave them a chance to celebrate the journey together.
Stovall said the work meshes well with the instruction she already provides. In addition, BloomBoard’s “micro-credentials” give her a chance to display mastery in specific skills that increase her workforce value.
Participants are often able to submit the work they already utilize in class, including lesson plans and activities, and receive direct feedback from other professionals.
“I have already logged into the platform, we’ve already seen what our micro-credentials look like, and I really enjoy that this program is so relatable to your classroom,” Stovall said. “It’s everything you’re already doing, and I really liked that I’m going to be able to build on the things I’m already doing and make my classroom even better for my students.”
