In LPS program, college students help address early childhood shortage before they graduate

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Seven college students officially took their next steps in their educational careers Thursday.

Five students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and two from the University of Nebraska at Kearney signed with the “Grow Our Own” initiative.

It’s a program partially funded by Lincoln Public Schools that gives college students hands-on experience in the classroom before receiving their degrees.

“It’s just exciting,” said Lio Ortiz, a senior at UNK. “In the classrooms, you’re really seeing what you can do.”

This is one way that LPS is trying to alleviate the shortage in its early education department.

There are nearly 700 unfilled teaching positions throughout the state, according to the latest teacher vacancy survey by the Nebraska Department of Education.

In early childhood early education specifically, nearly 7% of positions remain unfilled.

The students who signed on Thursday are the first participants in the program, which was created in June.

The initiative aims to give them all the tools they need.

“The assistance includes support for tuition, job-embedded professional learning as they pursue their degrees as they finish their college coursework,” said Cara Lucas-Richt, the director of early childhood for Lincoln Public Schools.

Although their official commitment was Thursday, the students have been getting their feet wet since January, working as early childhood paraeducators.

The students don’t have to go into early childhood after college. Their commitment ends when they graduate.

But LPS is happy to see their interest in the field and hopes it’s a start to filling the shortage.