New Teacher Mentoring and Scholarship Programs

Recruiting and hiring excellent, diverse, and Classical teachers for all our Gryphons has been a challenge! To increase the diversity of Classical teachers available to our students, Eagle Ridge Academy has a Grow Your Own (GYO) teacher program and has expanded our teacher mentoring program. 

The programs are supported by the New Teacher Mentor Coordinator who recruit a diverse population of non-licensed teachers, equip them with the skills and knowledge needed for high-quality teaching, and develop their teaching skills through coaching and mentoring which will allow Eagle Ridge Academy to retain empowered educators who positively impact student learning. The New Teacher Mentor Coordinator supports aspiring teachers in navigating the state certification system. Eagle Ridge Academy assists in covering costs associated with obtaining a license and/or degree. Through mentorship, financial assistance, and support in maneuvering the complexities of state procedures, Eagle Ridge Academy removes the cultural, economic, and linguistic barriers that may otherwise prevent future Classical educators from pursuing a career in teaching.  

Grow Your Own

Increasing the diversity of educators in the classroom benefits all students, especially those from historically marginalized populations who often do not see educators who look like them during their time in school. Grow Your Own (GYO) programs are partnerships between educator preparation programs, school districts or charter schools, and community organizations that recruit and prepare local community members (e.g., parents, paraeducators, non-certified school staff, high school students) to enter the teaching profession and teach in their communities.  Some GYO programs assist adults who are interested in entering the teaching profession by providing stipends, scholarships, unique student teaching or field placement experiences, and other options to help them in pursuing a career in education. Many GYO programs create opportunities to help secondary students explore teaching as a profession through Introduction to Education courses, future educator clubs, and other activities that help them see teaching as a promising career field after they have completed their postsecondary education.  

New Teacher Mentor Program

Stronger support for new teachers leads to reduced teacher turnover and improved instruction for students. Without the informal and formal experience provided through teacher preparation, four-year degree professionals seeking teacher licensure sometimes lack preparation and classroom management skills. Through this program, current staff with a four-year degree in a field other than education will obtain skills and knowledge to equip them to be more successful in the classroom as well as acquire a teaching license according to the appropriate MN Licensing Tier level. 

 There are Two Pathways:

1. Paraprofessional/Educational Assistants with four-year degrees: Licensure candidates will be hired as apprentice teachers and teach cooperatively with a mentor teacher while also receiving Classical training rooted in best practice. Licensure requirements and fees associated with licensure are paid by the Academy. 

   2.  Teachers on a MN State Tier 1 or 2 license: Currently licensed teacher               candidates who are hired at Eagle Ridge Academy on a Tier 1 or 2                   license and working toward full (Tier 4) licensure will be supported                   through an Academy mentor who will create an individual plan that                 outlines goals, supports, and timelines for licensure. 

Student Scholarships
We hope that one day every ERA graduate will receive a scholarship for post-secondary education.

Currently there are four $1,000 scholarships. We are starting the funding process to add four additional $1,000 scholarships and two $25,000 scholarships. By building up our endowment, our goal is to have the $1,000 scholarships added in the 2024-25 school year and the two $25,000 scholarships in 3-5 years. 

What We've Done and Numbers
We are happy to report that we currently have 12 staff members participating in the Teacher Mentor Program: 10 in classroom positions and two apprentice teachers.

The Teacher Mentor program not only allows for a hands-on training and mentorship program but pays for all testing and licensing fees and materials for testing. When these participants enroll in higher education courses for licensure, they will be eligible for reimbursement up to $10,000 per year for up to four years. 

Apprentice teachers are paid for their year-long learning experience.

To date we have awarded $21,000 in student scholarships, helping offset the cost of post-graduate studies.

Thank you! With your support, we can continue building on the future of our Eagle Ridge Academy scholars.