Two High Schools in Richmond Will Have an Education Pathway Program Next School Year

Richmond, VA—May 22, 2024— PDK International is proud today to announce a new partnership with Richmond Public Schools in Virginia. Two schools in Richmond—Richmond High School for the Arts and Armstrong High School—will have access to curriculum from PDK International to support their new Educators Rising chapters.

Educators Rising is PDK International’s Grow Your Own teacher pipeline program to help high school students become aware of career options in the education field while gaining practical experience with classroom teaching. Knowing that sixty percent of teachers return to teach in communities within twenty miles of where they went to school, Grow Your Own programs can help districts ensure a future pipeline of teachers who are familiar with their community and reflect their values and demographics.

“We’re proud to partner with Richmond Public Schools to provide Richmond’s schools a solution to allow more students to explore careers in teaching,” said James F. Lane, chief executive of PDK International. “Our program will help develop Richmond’s future cohort of teachers by using our curriculum and supports.”

“There’s no better introduction to Richmond Public Schools than as a student, and we’re thrilled at the opportunity to grow the next generation of educators right out of our classrooms and hallways,” said Maggie Clemmons, chief talent officer for Richmond’s schools. “This program offers our current students an exciting career pathway, and means that future students will have teachers who can deeply relate to them and their experiences. We’re grateful for the many partnerships that make this work possible, and make RPS stronger.”

The National Center for Education Statistics reported as of August 2023 that 45% of schools report being under-staffed. 70% of schools nationally reported too few candidates as being part of the challenge in putting a qualified teacher in every classroom. The Educators Rising program, which includes student chapters as part of a school’s career and technical education (CTE) programming, has over 20,000 members across schools in every state.

“Even if students do not ultimately choose to major in education in college, they will develop a number of applicable skills with participation in our program,” said Lane. The classes in Richmond’s schools will be augmented with opportunities for students to participate in the program’s state and national competitions.

Richmond Public Schools plans to inaugurate the program in the 2024-2025 school year for students.

###

About PDK International
Established in 1906, PDK International supports P-20 educators, researchers, and policy makers by strengthening their commitment to the profession throughout the entire arc of their careers. We are committed to elevating the profession through the intersection of research and practice. Through our core values of community, leadership, service, optimism, and excellence, we encourage educators and stakeholders to elevate the discourse and change the narrative around teaching and learning to ensure that every student has a high-quality education. www.pdkintl.org

About Educators Rising
In 2015, PDK International – in its 115-year commitment to the profession of education – launched Educators Rising, formerly the Future Educators Association (FEA). Today, Educators Rising is cultivating a new generation of highly skilled educators by guiding young people on a path from high school through college and into their teaching careers. By working with aspiring educators who reflect the demographics of their communities and who are passionate about serving those communities through public education, Educators Rising is changing the face of teaching. educatorsrising.org