The Public Education Foundation of Marion County (PEFMC) has been awarded a $100,000 Career Catalyst grant from the Consortium’s Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation program partnership. The Public Education Foundation of Marion County applied to expand Pathways for Future Educators—a comprehensive Grow Your Own Teacher initiative designed to address Marion County’s teacher shortage.
With more than 90 current teacher vacancies and a district that continues to grow and add new schools, Marion County Public Schools faces an urgent workforce challenge. Rather than relying solely on external recruitment, this initiative focuses on developing local talent at every stage of the educator pipeline—from high school students to paraprofessionals already working in classrooms.
At the center of the effort is a new Teacher Academy pathway, launching as early as ninth grade, that introduces students to the teaching profession through education-focused coursework, classroom experience, mentorship, and early certification opportunities. The program will expand across multiple high schools and be housed at South Marion High School when it opens in fall 2026, creating long-term access for students across the community.
Just as critical, the initiative blends public and private funding to make teaching degrees more affordable. Private donor support will fund scholarships that stack with Marion County’s existing “last-dollar-needed” scholarships, helping paraprofessionals and current teachers earn additional credentials or transition into high-need subject areas. This layered approach removes financial barriers while accelerating multiple entry points into the profession.
Together, these strategies create several connected pipelines, high school students, paraprofessionals, and credentialed teachers, strengthening Marion County’s ability to recruit, prepare, and retain educators who already know and care deeply about their community.
Through partnerships with the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, the Public Education Foundation of Marion County Marion County Public Schools, local colleges, workforce boards, and civic leaders, the Consortium is proud to be part of a long-term solution that grows great teachers from within, and ensures every classroom has the skilled educators students deserve.
