$8 million awarded for teacher retention, development in Tulare County

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the California Center on Teaching Careers $8 million to address teacher shortages in Tulare County, the center announced recently. 

The California Center on Teaching Careers is partnering with the Tulare County Offices of Education and the Visalia Unified School District to boost and retain educators in the area.  

The money will be disbursed over three years and will go toward professional learning for educators and school leaders. The funds will also provide support for career advancement pathways and develop a compensation system that prioritizes recruitment, selection, placement, development and retention of educators. 

“Every child in Visalia Unified deserves an exceptional educator in their classroom,” said Robyn Narahara-Correia, the district’s director of educator support and induction, in a statement. “We believe this is strong momentum in increasing our educators’ access to excellent mentors and our students’ access to excellent educators.” 

The center was one of 29 grantees awarded nationwide this year. The program will launch in the spring.