To inspire aspiring educators during a teacher shortage in Kentucky.

11 graduating seniors and the Teaching and Learning pathway received conditional job offers from Jefferson County Public Schools.

We are huge CPS teachers.

This is a profession that is very, very difficult, but also probably one of the most rewarding things that you can ever do.

And so my hope is that the last four years that you've been involved in this program, that you've had opportunities and experiences that have really reinforced your desire to get into this profession because it's very much needed.

And it is something that we look forward to seeing you grow into, over the next couple of years.

I've been in the teaching and learning pathway here for four years, and I've done a total of five classes through it, and it's been a lot of unexpected work and activities and through it, I kind of saw that.

I really like helping to teach people and help people develop and grow through new skills.

Our kids have been very excited about becoming effective teachers, and we provided them with experiential learning hours and understanding different practices and theories and methodologies, and how to design a lesson plan effectively.

And this is a huge deal to know that after they finish their coursework here at Ballard and then they embark on college, that they're going to be able to hopefully return to Jacobs and become classroom teachers.

So I was taught the opportunity that we would be having this day.

I was like, oh my goodness.

Like, this is what I've worked for.

It was actually like very shocking like that because we know, I know that we have the teacher shortage, like, so like knowing that I have that opportunity out there, like when I'm ready, it's it was great and it made me feel like this is like, this is for me.

And to be able to actually teach students who are so interested in becoming teachers and they are like sponges when I'm instructing and and getting to be able to work with students who are passionate and love this field is is incredible for me as a teacher.

She doesn't just like teach us the basics of it.

She goes into depth and I get a more understanding of like how to be an effective teacher.

I also think it's helped me personally build who I am as a character.

As a freshman, most freshmen come in and they're like, oh, school did but I've become became more committed.

I've donated more hours into this, like education wise, and I just feel like it's helping me grow.

I honestly did not expect to be receiving one, and I think it is a really valuable opportunity to have.

Overall.

I just think this program is just it's an amazing program.

It's very beneficial for us and it just gets us prepared for the long run.

I was like, I'm like.

The.

Timeline is super.

Tight.

So but yeah.

I'm very proud of them.

Well, more than 100 students in the teaching and learning pathway across the school district receive job offers.

The students can apply for a teaching position after they receive their certification.