San Angelo ISD Supports Employee Professional Growth through new Grow Your Own Program

San Angelo ISD Supports Employee Professional Growth through new Grow Your Own Program

San Angelo ISD values our team of Difference Makers from all job categories, and believes in supporting the hopes and dreams of both our students and staff. This year SAISD proudly launched an innovative collaboration with higher education partners to lay a foundation for paraprofessionals and staff interested in becoming teachers to pursue their own professional development toward earning a Bachelor’s degree through our Grow Your Own Program. 

The SAISD Grow Your Own Program identifies internal staff and team members with the commitment, dedication and drive to further their personal career goals and one day lead their own classroom as an SAISD educator. The District has partnered with Hartwell and others to provide a supportive pathway to obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree. Since March 2022, SAISD has 22 employees that have started the journey, 16 of which were recognized at the May Board Meeting.

“It is a great honor and privilege to recognize our very own employees beginning in a teacher program as part of our Grow Your Own Program for future SAISD teachers. We recognize potential in our team members while also understanding that sometimes there are obstacles that can make it difficult to earn a degree like busy schedules, financial concerns, raising families, and more,” said Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Professional Learning Dr. Farrah Gomez. “It brings SAISD both honor and joy to be able to provide this professional development support for this group of educators, who we believe to be the most prepared having real world experience in the District.”

In March, SAISD provided an opportunity for staff with aspirations to be a teacher to learn more about the degree options through Hartwell, including a specialized, reduced rate for SAISD employees. SAISD is also proud to include a recent Class of 2022 SAISD graduate in the Grow Your Own Program, Lake View High School graduate and former president of the LVHS Capturing Kids Hearts Ambassadors, Zenida Dominguez. She will begin her career with the District as a special education paraprofessional at Bradford Elementary as she works toward her degree.

“I am honored to be a product of San Angelo ISD. As I close this current chapter in my life at Lake View High School, I am excited to begin my new journey working towards my degree and certification in teaching. What most excites me is the ability to learn alongside SAISD employees in a real classroom environment while obtaining my credentials. SAISD has given me a way to discover my passion for teaching in a whole new light…,” said Dominguez. “I look forward to carrying on the tradition of guiding others like myself to finding their passion, and realizing that just because their parents or their family did not go to college they cannot let that define them as a person, and they can do it. Being able to step into an SAISD classroom when I’m qualified is the drive that I need to keep me going.”

San Angelo ISD is proud to offer the Grow Your Own Program and other professional development opportunities to our team of Difference Makers. We thank SAISD educators, future educators and staff for their commitment to furthering the SAISD mission of engaging students in a relevant and inspiring education that produces future-ready graduates. To stay up-to-date on San Angelo ISD including hiring opportunities and benefits, please visit the SAISD website at www.saisd.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.