Cleveland City Schools is proud to celebrate Allison Ready as the district’s first-ever graduate of the Grow Your Own teacher apprenticeship program, an initiative designed to help individuals already working in schools earn their teaching license and step into a full-time classroom role.
Allison has been serving as an Instructional Assistant at Arnold Memorial Elementary, building close relationships with students, supporting teachers, and making a real difference every day. Thanks to the Grow Your Own pathway, she’s now fully licensed and beginning her first year as a teacher—starting at the Master’s level.
“I’m excited about my new job and incredibly grateful to be at Arnold—I truly love it there,” said Ready. “My coworkers are amazing and so supportive. I won’t sugarcoat it—the program was tough, but it was absolutely worth it.”
The Grow Your Own Center, established through the University of Tennessee System, is helping communities across the state grow future teachers from within. Through hands-on learning, financial assistance, and strong local partnerships, the program is opening doors for people who already live, work, and serve in Tennessee schools.
“Allison is exactly the kind of educator this program was built for,” said Kelly Kiser, Assistant Director of Schools and Director of Human Resources. “She already had deep roots in our schools, and now she’s stepping into the classroom with the skills and heart to lead.”
Tennessee was the first state in the nation to launch a federally recognized teacher apprenticeship program, and Cleveland City Schools is proud to be part of this forward-thinking approach. The district believes that investing in passionate, dedicated individuals like Ready strengthens not only the workforce—but the entire school community.
“Allison didn’t have to look far to find her calling,” said Arnold Memorial Elementary School Principal, Mr. Michael Chai. “She’s always had the heart of a teacher—she just needed the opportunity. Now, she gets to be that encourager for her own students, just like so many were for her.”
Cleveland City Schools looks forward to continuing the Grow Your Own partnership and supporting more future educators through this accessible, community-based program.