Pfaff celebrates Vigo County schools receiving grant to support educator pipeline

TERRE HAUTE – The Indiana Department of Education has announced Vigo County schools 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. Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute) today celebrated the announcement of Vigo County schools as one of the grant recipients.  

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. 

“There is no mistake that the teacher shortage crisis in Indiana is real and urgent. This initiative is a great step forward in addressing this issue by investing back in educators and the futures of all Hoosier students,” said Pfaff. “Through this much-needed funding, Vigo schools can not only care for the teachers they have now, but set the stage for future educators to excel in this important profession.”

Today, 2,812 school support positions are posted on the Indiana Department of Education's new online job board. Pfaff added that 1,562 of those open positions are in search of teachers.

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.