TEA’s Grow Our Own Grant Initiative

Sabinal ISD was awarded the TEA “Grow Your Own Cycle 2” grant totaling $173,500 in January 2019, under a Shared Service Arrangement with D’Hanis ISD, Knippa ISD, and Utopia ISD. The Grow Our Own grant program provides selected school districts with financial support to increase the entry of qualified, diverse candidates into the teaching profession, particularly in rural and small school settings. Paraprofessionals, substitutes, and/or other non certified staff will have the opportunity to apply for this initiative through their school district. Candidates will have two years to complete their Bachelors and Teacher Certification while those with a Bachelors will have the opportunity to complete their Alternative Certification.

The Grow Our Own Grant Funds will also be used to encourage high school students to consider teaching as a career by enrolling in the Education Pathway Courses at their high school and/or Dual Credit Education Courses through their local Junior College.

This initiative comes as a direct recommendation from Commissioner Morath’s Texas Rural Schools Task Force, whose members identified this priority issue and presented a strong recommendation to address it. This initiative also supports TEA’s Strategic Priority to recruit, support, and retain teachers.

If you are interested in a candidacy for this initiative, please visit your school’s website or contact your school district’s administration.