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District unveils 'Paraprofessional to Pro' pipeline backed by $100,000 Bishop Parker Foundation grant
Summary
The district presented a Para‑to‑Pro program that will help paraprofessionals earn bachelor’s degrees while working; staff cited a $100,000 grant from the Bishop Parker Foundation, vendor partners BloomBoard, and an initial cohort of about 5–10 participants who will commit to teach three years after certification.
District human resources staff on July 14 introduced a paraprofessional‑to‑teacher pipeline designed to recruit, train and retain educators from inside district schools.
Dr. Britton, the district’s director of human resources, described a "grow here, teach here, and stay here" approach that will allow participating paraprofessionals (paras) who hold an associate degree to complete a bachelor of science in education while working as an "associate teacher substitute" at no cost to them. "We will take participating paraprofessionals, help them earn a bachelor's degree while working as a full‑time teacher substitute at no cost to them," Dr. Britton said.
Program design: Staff said the program will require principals’ recommendations, an application process, and a three‑year commitment to teach in the district after certification. The vendor BloomBoard will provide instruction and certification pathways; BloomBoard relationships with Barry University and Lake Erie College will allow candidates to earn an accredited degree and state‑approved teacher certification.
Funding and scale: The Bishop Parker Foundation provided a $100,000 grant to cover tuition gaps, mentor costs and program administration for the program’s initial round. Dr. Britton said district staff will begin with a small cohort of about 5–10 participants depending on financial aid and FAFSA outcomes and will provide mentors and close monitoring of completion.
Why it matters: Board members framed the program as a workforce and equity tool. Trustees said the program should increase the number of teachers who reflect the district’s student body and address chronic vacancies. "This is a great opportunity because we have a lot of diversity in our para staff, less so in our certified teacher staff," a board member said; Dr. Britton noted targeted recruiting at HBCU virtual fairs and ESOL hiring as complementary strategies.
Next steps: Staff said the provider contract is moving through signature levels and the first cohort will be selected after principals submit recommendations and the application materials are finalized. Staff and trustees said they want to scale the program over time if initial results are positive.
(Reporting note: program details, cohort size and grant amount were presented by district HR staff and are reported as stated during the workshop.)
