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Like many principals across the nation, I’m grappling with a shortage of educators. The shortage is especially acute when it comes to teachers who look like the predominantly Latinx community in Marshalltown, Iowa, where my school is located.

Many of the students at Marshalltown High School don’t see themselves in the role of teacher because their teachers don’t look like them. This is not just a matter of personal preference: Research shows that being taught by teachers of the same race or ethnicity has a positive impact on students’ achievements, test scores, attendance, and referrals to gifted and talented programs.

To create a pipeline of teachers who are familiar with (and familiar to) our community, two years ago, my district implemented a pathway for our students to become educators in their own backyard. At the end of this program, students are guaranteed an interview for an educator position at a school in Marshalltown. Here’s how we’re addressing the teacher shortage by “growing our own.”

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