Hatfield celebrates Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation receiving nearly $1.5 million to support educator pipeline

The Indiana Department of Education has announced Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation as one of the recipients of a $10.6 million grant to support the attraction and retention of state educators. The Attract, Prepare, Retain Grant aims to help schools and communities strengthen, expand and diversify the educator pipeline. 

State Rep. Ryan Hatfield (D-Evansville), who was born, raised and educated in Evansville, today celebrated the announcement of Evansville Vanderburg School Corporation (EVSC) as one of the grant recipients receiving $1,499,722.50. 

This grant will aid schools and educators in 29 Indiana counties. Recipients of the grant have demonstrated a commitment to supporting the professional development of local educators, including investing in strategies such as growing the number of opportunities for high school students and minority populations to pursue careers as educators. 

“As a father, lawmaker and proud lifelong resident of Evansville, the nearly $1.5 million investment to strengthen the teaching profession and support our local schools in their effort to address educator shortages is transformational,” Hatfield said.

The Evansville lawmaker pointed to the Indiana Department of Education's new online job board, which highlights 1,562 open positions for teachers across the state, as of Oct. 3.

“Supporting teacher preparation and development programs is more important now than ever before, as schools in every corner of our state are struggling to recruit, prepare and retain educators,” Hatfield added. “The Indiana Department of Education took a critical first step with an infusion of funding that delivers meaningful and evidence-based strategies to enhance Evansville Vanderburg School Corporation. Every Hoosier student deserves a comprehensive, well-rounded education from cradle to career. This reality can only happen when schools and educators have the resources and support required to facilitate a top-tier education.”

Successful applications focused on increasing leadership and career advancement within the educator profession, as well as increasing opportunities for high school students and underrepresented populations to pursue careers as educators. This could include increasing 

• The number of opportunities for high school students to enter educator preparation programs with transferable post-secondary credits,
• Underrepresented populations among candidates enrolling in educator preparation programs,
• Opportunities for leadership and career advancement within the profession, and
• Opportunities for sharing information, practices and ideas among other educators.

A full list of the school districts and partners that are recipients of the Attract, Prepare, Retain Grant can be found here.