Grow Your Own Teacher Application (Spring 2027 Term)

Application deadline: December 1, 2026 (for Spring 2027 eligibility).

About the Program

The Grown Your Own Teacher (GYOT) program aims to address the nationwide teacher shortage by creating a pipeline of quality teachers who share the culture, language, and community of Wichita Public School students.

The GYOT forgivable loan program is district-funded and provides financial assistance in the form of forgivable loans to outstanding Wichita Public Schools employees in a classified (0.50 FTE or greater) or substitute position. The program encourages and enables these employees to pursue full-time teaching careers in hard-to-fill certified positions (SPED, Math, English, History, Science, or Elementary core). This program is not intended for those already eligible to be a Teacher of Record.

GYOT funds are not guaranteed. A limited number of recipients are selected through an application process by a district panel. All applicants will be notified of the panel's decision prior to the semester for which they applied.

Eligible Positions

Positions eligible for this program must be determined by Human Resources as "hard to fill" based on the following criteria:

• How critical the position is to the district's operation and mission
• The success of recent efforts to recruit candidates and retain employees in similar positions
• The availability of well-qualified candidates in the labor market
• Recent turnover in similar positions
• Special qualifications needed for the position
• Other unique factors demonstrating difficulty in filling the position

Current hard-to-fill areas include SPED, Math, English, History, Science, or Elementary core.

Teaching Obligation

Based on the Loan Program Agreement, each participant must begin teaching full-time in their area of certification within Wichita Public Schools the first semester immediately following graduation and continue for a minimum of three consecutive years.

If a participant does not complete the requirements for a degree in education, fails to obtain teacher certification, or does not fulfill the three-year teaching obligation, they must reimburse Wichita Public Schools the entire amount of the loan received. However, one semester's tuition and books paid by the GYOT program will be forgiven for each semester of teaching service completed, up to the point services are no longer provided.

Requirements

• One (1) year of consistent employment with Wichita Public Schools in a classified or guest (substitute) position, in good standing as determined by the Chief Human Resources Officer
• Minimum of 60 college credit hours completed, with a grade point average of 2.7 or better
• Must be enrolled in a teaching program for one of the defined "hard to fill" areas

Application Materials

Applicants must submit the following items with their application:

• Plan of Study signed by a University official
• University transcript

Applications must be complete and fully submitted with all required documentation by the December 1, 2026 deadline to be considered.

For questions, contact Emily Widrig at ewidrig@wichitapublicschools.org.