During this Teacher Appreciation Week, several Trigg County High School students took the next step to enter the education field with their mentors and administrators hoping they return home to teach after college.
Five students accepted the chance to study education at Murray State University while a sixth will get her education at Hopkinsville Community College.
Trigg County High Principal Tim Bush went to college at a time when teachers were plentiful. He said that is no longer the case.
click to download audioApril Smith, student affairs specialist at Hopkinsville Community College, said signing days like the one at Trigg County on Thursday are important to restock the supply of teachers.
Ebbie Britton will attend HCC and study history, something she took an early interest in.
Shelby Mohon will attend Murray State University and got her interest in teaching after spending time as an intern in the elementary school.
click to download audioNot surprisingly, it was one of her elementary school teachers who had an important influence on her growing up.
Also headed to Murray State is Cole Casey, who spent time as a peer tutor in the high school this year and is looking to enter the special education field.
Hudson Holder plans to take the history pathway at Murray State.
click to download audioHe cited his history teacher, Cameron Brown, as someone who helped him both in and out of the classroom.
Kennedy Croft moved to Trigg County from Caldwell County during her sophomore year and said a love of history is what has her wanting to become a history teacher.
Anna Sink has served as FFA president at Trigg County High and did not have to look outside her home to find her influence to become a teacher.
click to download audioDenise Young is the college recruiter counselor at Trigg County High and said it’s important to nurture and grow future teachers while in high school.
click to download audioThe Kentucky Center for Economic Policy said there was a 260% increase in the number of open teacher positions at Kentucky schools between 2019 and 2023. It also comes at a time when teacher pay in Kentucky ranks 41st in the nation at $56,300 compared to the national average of $70,000.
