Grow Your Own Teacher Application (Fall 2026 Term)

Wichita Public Schools•Wichita, KS

20h•Onsite

About The Position

The Grow Your Own Teacher (GYOT) program is a district-funded initiative designed to address the chronic teacher shortage by creating a continuous pipeline of qualified teachers who understand and reflect the culture, language, and community of Wichita Public School students. This forgivable loan program offers financial assistance to outstanding Wichita Public Schools employees in classified (0.50 FTE or greater) or substitute positions, encouraging them to pursue full-time teaching careers in hard-to-fill certified positions such as Special Education, Math, English, History, Science, or Elementary core subjects. The program is not intended for individuals already eligible to be a Teacher of Record. Funding is not guaranteed, and a limited number of recipients are selected by a district panel based on the application process. Applicants will be notified of the panel's decision before the semester for which they applied. Hard-to-fill positions are determined by Human Resources based on criticality to the district's mission, recruitment and retention success, labor market availability, turnover rates, special qualifications, and other unique factors demonstrating filling difficulty. Eligible areas currently include SPED, Math, English, History, Science, or Elementary core.

Requirements

One year of consistent employment with Wichita Public Schools in a classified position or as a guest (substitute) position, and be in good standing as determined by the Chief Human Resources Officer.
Minimum of 60 college credit hours completed.
A grade point average of 2.7 or better.
Enrollment in a teaching program for one of the defined 'hard to fill' areas: SPED, Math, English, History, Science, or Elementary Core.
Submission of a Plan of Study signed by a University official.
Submission of University transcript.
Applications must be complete and fully submitted with all required documentation prior to the June 1, 2026 deadline.

Responsibilities

Begin teaching full-time in the area of certification within Wichita Public Schools the first semester immediately following graduation.
Continue teaching for a minimum of three consecutive years in Wichita Public Schools.
Reimburse Wichita Public Schools the full loan amount if requirements are not met, including failing to complete a degree in education, obtain teacher certification, or fulfill the three-year teaching obligation. One semester of tuition and books paid by the GYOT program will be forgiven for each semester of teaching service completed, up to the point of non-compliance.