Louisville teacher residency program helping fill vacancies in Jefferson County schools

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As students head back to school, teachers are still needed in Jefferson County Public Schools classrooms.

The district hopes its Teacher Residency Program, which was created as a pipeline for minority teachers, will help fill those vacancies.

Lakeisha Walker is a new graduate from the program. She will start the year teaching first grade at Perry Elementary School in West Louisville.

The Teacher Residency Program is giving her a second chance to revisit a passion she had for teaching.

"So fresh out of high school, I went to Western Kentucky University, and I originally chose elementary education," she explained.

But for two decades after college, Walker tapped into a different career path -- dance. It was one of her dance parents that informed her about the program.

"At that time I was looking for a change. You know, I still wanted to work with kids." Walker said.

So she decided to give teaching a chance. "As soon as I got into the classroom, I was like I should have done this a long time ago," she said. "It was just so rewarding. The students were so sweet.

The program's director says Walker's story is why the program exists. "Having talent within our community that is ready to pour into our students is why we are here," explained Syleena Fishback.

The Teacher Residency Program is an intense 13 months with classes at the University of Louisville or Bellarmine University. Fischback said, "they take the same classes and coursework that anybody that is achieving a master's in education receives."

Perry Elementary will gain two new teachers from the program this year. Something principal Keisha Fulson is excited about.

"Here's the thing. She could've chosen to be anywhere else. She could have been doing a different career completely, but she chose to be here for our kids, and so that says a lot," Fulson said.

Walker said she feels like she is right where she was meant to be. "I grew up in West Louisville, so that's somewhere that's always going to be home for me."

The Louisville Teachers Residency Program requires a 3.0 gpa or better along with a Bachelor degree. To find out more, click here.

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