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Tullahoma City Schools recently had its first graduate of the Grow Your Own program, as Laken Grizzard graduated from UT Southern in May.

In 2022, the Tennessee Department of Education became the first state to establish a permanent Grow Your Own model, pioneering a new pathway to develop teachers within our schools. The Grow Your Own partnership recognizes and grows talented educational assistants, providing them with innovative, no-cost pathways to the teaching profession.

To be accepted into the Grow Your Own program, applicants must first receive a recommendation from their principal and be in good standing based on previous evaluations. Additionally, applicants need to have mentors who will support and provide feedback for the apprentice. Lastly, applicants must be committed to being hired upon graduation.

In July 2022, Grizzard submitted its first apprenticeship application, which was approved. During the Grow Your Own program, Grizzard had two mentors, Alesha Ashby and Brooke TeVrucht. She received proficient and exemplary ratings on all learning competencies, allowing her to graduate from UT Southern.

While at TCS, Grizzard has served in several roles, including a Special Educational assistant at Bel-Aire Elementary School in 2017, before moving briefly to Tullahoma High School in 2021. She then became an RTI assistant at East Lincoln in 2021 and has been at the school since then. She is also an assistant coach for the THS girls soccer team. After her May graduation from UT Southern, Grizzard was hired as a third-grade teacher at East Lincoln Elementary.

“I feel proud and inspired by the transformative journey I undertook,” Grizzard said. “The hands-on experience and guidance from dedicated professors at UT Southern equipped me with essential skills and insights that have shaped my understanding of education. This program not only strengthened my commitment to teaching but also reinforced my passion for nurturing the next generation of learning. I am excited to apply what I have learned and continue making a positive impact in the community.”

For this achievement, Grizzard was recognized at the district’s Board of Education meeting in May. TCS Deputy Director Dr. April Norris shared a presentation about Grow Your Own and the steps Grizzard took to graduate from UT Southern.

“I am incredibly proud of Laken,” Dr. Norris said. “Her care and talent when working with students were evident years ago. Nothing makes me happier than celebrating her as our district’s first Grow Your Own graduate.”

TCS Director of Schools, Dr. Catherine Stephens, also offered her congratulations to Grizzard.

“Grow Your Own is extraordinary for schools across Tennessee, and I am ecstatic that Laken was our first graduate of the program,” Dr. Stephens said. “Laken’s commitment to students was evident throughout this process, and she will be an incredible teacher for our district. After her graduation, I hope others follow in her footsteps, as we are blessed to have some incredible staff and amazing educational assistants in our district.”