Superintendent's Message 07-10-26

The Lexington Richland Five Teacher Forum hosted a heartfelt celebration featuring the “homegrown” future LexRich5 teachers. This initiative is a teacher-led effort to recruit and retain educators who were raised, educated, and trained right here in our community.

More than 170 LexRich5 teachers have graduated from LexRich 5 schools, went to college, and returned to teach in LexRich5 schools. Featured speaker Alyssa Powers, the 2024 - 2025 District 5 Teacher of the Year, shared a powerful message about the need to create a supportive environment for teachers.  The Teacher Forum strategy is to recruit educators as early as possible which begins long before a college degree. We are investing in teacher cadets, high school seniors who are committed to careers in education and in support staff who plan to pursue teacher certification. 

Similar to collegiate recruiting, these prospective teachers formally declare their intent to return to District 5 after completing college and earning required degrees and certifications. Establishing this planned pathway helps ensure a steady stream of locally rooted educators who understand our community and remain invested in our students.

Each of the twenty “Homegrown” Teacher candidates were invited to bring family members and someone who inspired them to the celebration. The stories shared were heartfelt and illustrated why these individuals decided to enter the teaching profession. Those personal narratives are instrumental in establishing the motivation for our students to return to and teach their home school district. This initiative is the reminder of “why” we are educators. The Homegrown Teacher Recruitment Initiative has a promising workforce strategy and a practical plan for our staffing future.
 

There are so many benefits when we nurture talent from within. Our Homegrown teachers are best positioned to recruit the next generation of teachers, formalizing clear pathways from high school to certified teaching. District 5 is taking a proactive step toward retaining educators who are personally invested in our community. We believe this program will deliver long-term benefits for our schools, our students, and our neighborhoods.

Thank you to the D5 Teacher Forum, Human Resources Department, Academics Department and everyone who participated. We are excited about the promise of this “homegrown” initiative to strengthen our local schools and deepen the bonds between our community and its educators.

Akil E. Ross, Sr.
Superintendent