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Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9975-3975

Abstract

Minnesota faces persistent teacher shortages driven by declining enrollment in teacher preparation programs, high early-career attrition, retirements, demographic shifts, and barriers to entering the profession. Traditional recruitment efforts alone are insufficient to meet the state's long-term workforce needs. This white paper proposes Grow Your Own (GYO) teacher pathways as a sustainable workforce development strategy that cultivates future educators from within Minnesota's own schools and communities. Rather than relying primarily on external recruitment, GYO initiatives intentionally develop local talent by creating accessible pathways for high school students, paraprofessionals, career changers, and community members to become licensed teachers.

Grounded in current workforce research and Boyd Bradbury's (2021) framework describing the interconnected challenges of recruitment, retention, and teacher attrition, this paper argues that strengthening the educator pipeline requires coordinated investments across the entire continuum of teacher development. It further highlights the growing demographic mismatch between Minnesota's increasingly diverse student population and its educator workforce, emphasizing the importance of expanding equitable access to the teaching profession. Career and Technical Education (CTE) is presented as an effective model for workforce development, demonstrating how partnerships, experiential learning, and career pathways can be adapted to strengthen the teacher pipeline.

Four policy recommendations are presented: (1) expand funding for regional Grow Your Own partnerships, (2) invest in high school Introduction to Education pathways and dual-credit opportunities, (3) increase support for adult Grow Your Own programs serving paraprofessionals and other community members, and (4) strengthen mentoring and induction programs to improve teacher retention. Collectively, these recommendations position Grow Your Own initiatives as scalable, evidence-informed solutions that address teacher shortages while strengthening workforce diversity, community connections, and long-term educator retention. Investing in local talent represents not only an educational initiative but also a strategic workforce investment that will help ensure Minnesota students have sustained access to highly qualified teachers while supporting stronger schools, communities, and the state's future economy.

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