Statement of Purpose
The primary purpose of the Grow Your Own Teachers (GYOT) Program is to increase diversity in the teaching staff of the Wichita Public Schools, USD259.

The GYOT Program identifies individuals through high school counselors, colleges of education, and self-referrals, who have graduated or will graduate from one of the state accredited high schools in Wichita or is an employee of the Wichita Public Schools, or meets the eligibility requirements for admission to Friends University, Newman University, Southwestern College, or Wichita State University, and who are interested in pursuing a career in teaching. Components of the program include seminars, financial support (in the form of a forgivable loan), work experiences, mentor support and assistance with job placement upon successful completion of all requirements for teacher licensure. Applicants must submit a completed application packet prior to the established deadline in order to be considered. 

History of the Program
The GYOT Program began in 1989 with the selection and enrollment of 20 individuals. To date, one hundred and fifty-one (151)  participants have completed their college education, ninety-six (96) individuals are currently employed as teachers in the Wichita Public Schools.  In the 2009-10 academic year, thirty-seven (37) students, ranging in status from freshmen to seniors, are participating in the program. 

Community Need/Benefits
During the past twenty years, the population of the Wichita Public Schools has experienced several significant demographic changes. The main goal of the GYOT Program is to increase the diversity of the Wichita Public Schools teaching staff

Keeping these demographics in mind, the GYOT Program benefits the community by:

1. positively impacting the academic performance of all students, 
2. providing all students the opportunity to experience diversity in their teachers, 
3. developing teaching staffs that reflect the diverse society in which we live, 
4. providing area employers school districts that provide a high quality education for all students thus making it easier to attract employees to the area,
5. living and teaching the acceptance of different ethnic groups; and,
6. providing a strong education system that leads to highly qualified graduates who then become skilled members of the workforce. 

Governance 
The GYOT Program is directed by an Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from the Wichita Public Schools,  United Teachers of Wichita, Friends University, Newman University, Southwestern College, Wichita State University and other selected community agencies. The Advisory Committee is complemented by the Selection Committee whose responsibility is to review applications and interview/recommend candidates to participate in the program. The Selection Committee consists of representatives from participating institutions of higher education, the school district, and a representative from the Wichita Chamber of Commerce.

Advisors to Program Participants

Suzie Ahlstrand, Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce
Paul Babich, United Teachers of Wichita- President

Funding and Cooperative Partnerships
The GYOT Program is locally funded. It is designed to provide financial assistance in the form of forgivable loans to outstanding Wichita Public Schools high school graduates and to encourage and enable them to pursue full-time teaching careers at the pre-school, elementary or secondary level. One of the very unique components of this program is the collaborative/cooperative effort of three separate entities; the private/business sector, area institutions of higher education, and the Wichita school district.  All of these entities work in concert to make certain that what was once simply an idea is now a reality. It is unusual to find such partners working together consistently on a program of this magnitude with such implications for diversity.   At the present time, invitations are being extended to others to become a part of this great cooperative effort.  

Eligibility for Acceptance into the Program
To be eligible for GYOT forgivable loan assistance, an applicant must: 

1.      be a graduate of a Wichita Public School OR be an employee of the Wichita Public Schools, and/or meet the eligibility requirements for admission to Friends University, Newman University, Southwestern College or Wichita State University

2.      have a high school or college GPA of 2.5 and meet university GPA requirements.

3.      demonstrate an aptitude for entering teacher education by meeting university eligibility set requirements

4.    demonstrate good verbal and written communication skills

5.      actively participate in all GYOT Program activities, including, but not limited to, monthly seminars and workshops

6.      complete the Gallup "TeacherInsight" online survey.

7.       complete his/her student teaching with the Wichita Public Schools

8.      sign a Statement of Commitment and Intent to teach full-time in the Wichita Public Schools in his/her area of licensure, beginning with the first full semester immediately following graduation, OR to repay the entire amount of the loan received from the GYOT Program if the participant fails to complete the requirements for a degree in education, fails to earn/receive favorable reports from cooperating teachers during the teaching block, fails to receive a university recommendation for teacher licensure, fails to obtain teacher licensure, or fails to teach full-time in his/her area of licensure with the Wichita Public Schools. In the event that a participant fulfills a portion of the teaching commitment, but not all of the commitment, the participant will be required to pay a pro-rated amount of the GYOT forgivable loan.

9.  sign an Attestation of Eligibility to meet State of Kansas requirements for teacher licensure.

Ongoing Academic & Personal Obligations of Program Participants

 
Participants must: 

1.   be consecutively enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester in an undergraduate program leading to teacher licensure at Friends University, Newman University, Southwestern College, or Wichita State University; 

2.   maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or better, 

3.   actively participate in all GYOT Program seminars and workshops, 

4.   sign an annual Statement of Commitment and Intent to teach full-time, in his/her area of licensure, with the Wichita Public Schools 

5.   sign an annual Attestation of Eligibility to meet State of Kansas requirements for teacher licensure; 
 

Failure to meet any of these obligations may be cause for participants to be removed from the program, at which time the total amount of the GYOT Program forgivable loan funds expended on behalf of the participant must be repaid.

Activities
The GYOT Program provides participants with a comprehensive support system including but not limited to retreats, seminars, and workshops on goal setting, study skills, test- taking, communication skills, and college survival techniques. In addition, members of the GYOT Program Advisory Committee and individuals identified by the participants provide mentoring. Participants are expected to attend and actively participate in all of the GYOT Program activities. 

Teaching Obligation
Based on the signed Statement of Commitment and Intent to teach, each participant is obligated to begin teaching full-time, in his/her area of licensure, with the Wichita Public Schools the first semester immediately following graduation and continuing for a period of three consecutive years.  Participants involved in the program for less than four years will have a pro-rated teaching obligation.

Applications for the GYOT Program must be received by 4:45 on January 29, 2010.  It is the direct responsibility of the applicant to make certain all components of the application package are received by the deadline, whether delivered by the applicant, U.S. mail or other means.  Applications that arrive after the 4:45 p.m. deadline hour will not be accepted. Applicants will  receive information regarding the disposition of their applications.

Explanation of ACT/SAT Scores and University Admittance Criteria:

Friends University:

1.    Applicants with an ACT-CGPA product of 45 or above are fully admitted.

2.    Applicants with an ACT-CGPA product less than 45, but higher than 20 are to be admitted    provisionally.

3.    Applicants with an ACT-CGPA product less than 20 cannot to be admitted.

4.    Applicants out of high school more than five years or who are 23 years or older need not take the ACT, but must have a 2.0 high school grade point average.

Newman University:

1.    A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, or an average GED score of 45 with no individual test scores below 35.

2.    Applicants requiring an ACT or SAT score must have an ACT composite score of 18 or a combined verbal and math SAT score of 860.

3.    Transfer students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale from regionally accredited colleges or universities and good academic standing.

Southwestern College

Students seeking admission to the teacher education program must first demonstrate their readiness by completing the following requirements:

1.      PSYC 112 - General Psychology with grade of C or better.

2.      EDUC 218 - Developmental Psychology with grade C or better

3.      Sophomore standing with a GPA of at least 2.5

4.      Demonstration of communication skills by completion of LAS 110 Writing Across the Disciplines, LAS 120 Research Across the Disciplines, and SPCH 102 Introduction to Public Speaking with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA in the three course.

5.      Successful completion of Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) with scores that meet or exceed the state requirements in the Reading, Math, and Writing sections.

6.      EDUC 150 Introduction to Education with grade C or better.

7.      EDUC 215 Foundations of Education with grade C or better

8.      Submission of formal application to Education Committee.

Wichita State University:

1.    Achieve an ACT composite score of 21 or above or a minimum combined SAT-I of 980, OR

2.    Rank in the top one-third of high school graduating class, OR

Complete the pre-college curriculum with at least a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.  

For additional information contact:
GYOT Program
Shelly Martin or Sharon DeVore

201 N Water
smartin@usd259.net
Wichita, KS 67202-1292 Phone: (316) 973-4420  Fax: (316) 973-4683