TCLAS “Grow Your Own” Grant Awarded to Six Hutto ISD Paraprofessionals Seeking to Advance Their Careers in Education
March 11, 2022
Hutto ISD is excited to announce that six of our very own paraprofessionals were chosen to receive the “Grow Your Own” grant scholarship! These scholarships were funded by a grant Hutto ISD applied to and received through TEA’s Texas COVID Learning Acceleration Supports (TCLAS) program and will support the recipients as they become certified teachers. Hutto ISD has partnered with Texas State University for our grant recipients to earn their teaching certification and become Hippo Nation Educators by 2024! They will be earning their Early Childhood Education (EC) - 6th Grade certification or Special Education certification to teach our wonderful students in Hutto ISD.
The Grow Your Own (GYO) program is designed to facilitate increased entry of qualified, diverse candidates into the teaching profession. GYO provides support for paraprofessionals to become certified teachers. For more information about Hutto ISD’s #GrowWithUS program and career pathways, please feel free to email lindsie.almquist@huttoisd.net.
Congratulations To Our Hutto ISD Grant Recipients!
Elisa Hood-Waddle
Hutto Middle School
Pursuing EC-6 Certification
“This grant means I can finally continue and finish my educational career when life experiences made me put it on hold. I was a single parent for 13 years. I became the caregiver for my parents and went through unforeseeable circumstances.”
Lindsay Brown
Veterans' Hill Elementary
Pursuing EC-6 Certification
“This grant means I can pursue my dream of one day becoming a classroom teacher. It means by doing what I love, I can inspire and challenge young minds as my elementary teachers once did for me. My favorite aspect is that I can show my daughters that it is never too late to aspire to be greater in their career. Grow where you are planted.”
Natacha N. Barbosa
Hutto Middle School
Pursuing Special Education Certification
“This grant means I get to LIVE a new experience, LAUGH through challenges with others and LOVE on children more.
Uma Rao
Farley Middle School
Pursuing EC-6 Certification
“This grant means a new whole world of possibilities has opened up for me and I am very excited for what the future holds!”
Gloriana Price
Nadine Johnson Elementary
Pursuing EC-6 Certification
“This grant means that I have the opportunity to serve my community in a new capacity and continue to impact the lives of our little learners.”
Tony Carr
Hutto Ninth Grade Center
Pursuing Special Education Certification
“This grant means an opportunity for me to further learn about education and better serve the students of Hutto ISD.”