May 30, 2020

The Raytown School District selected four high school students for its fourth cohort of the Grow Your Own teacher recruitment program.

Grow Your Own program includes two recipients from Raytown High School. Leslie Rodriguez plans to major in early childhood education and elementary education at Rockhurst University. Allisiya Vaughn plans to major in elementary education at Metropolitan Community College and Park University.

The Grow Your Own program includes two recipients from Raytown South High School. Shelby Hill plans to major in special education at the University of Central Missouri. Cathryn Miller plans to major in special education at Metropolitan Community College and the University of Central Missouri.

Miller, Rodriguez, and Vaughn are also a part of the Southland Center for Advanced Professional Studies Education Exploration program. The program allows students to explore careers in education before spending time and money in college.

Each year, students planning to pursue careers in teaching, are selected and will receive a total of $10,000 over a four-year period. Upon successful completion of an education degree and certification, each recipient will be hired as a teacher in the district. As long as the recipient completes four years of teaching in the Raytown School District after they complete their college education and are certified, they will not have to pay back the loan.