NEWS
Grow Your Own Teachers grant program opens

AUSTIN – Commissioner of Education Mike Morath today announced that applications for the 2019–2021 Grow Your Own: Teachers, Cycle 2 grant program are now being accepted.
Local educational agencies including school districts and open-enrollment charter schools, as well as education service centers, educator preparation programs and institutions of higher education are eligible for the grant program, which aims to elevate the teaching profession in Texas by developing high-quality education and training courses at the high school level.
“With an emphasis on small and rural school districts, the Grow Your Own: Teachers grant program addresses challenges Texas currently faces in terms of recruiting and retaining teacher candidates in hard-to-staff areas,” said Commissioner Morath. “Through this initiative, districts can create grant-funded teacher pipelines to increase the pool and diversity of Texas’ future classroom leaders.”
The 2019–2021 Grow Your Own: Teachers grant can be used by districts to encourage high school students to consider teaching as a career and paraprofessionals, teacher aides, and/or long-term substitutes to pursue certification. The grants can also be used by educator preparation programs to support student teachers during their year-long clinical teaching or teacher candidates during their intensive pre-service training.
The 2019–2021 Grow Your Own: Teachers, Cycle 2, grant represents the second opportunity for school districts, charters, education service centers and institutions of higher education to be part of this initiative. The first 25 grantees were announced in spring 2018 and include: Amarillo ISD; Angleton ISD; Burkeville ISD; Chapel Hill ISD (Smith County); Cumby ISD; Everman ISD; Fort Stockton ISD; Grand Prairie ISD; Lamar CISD; Lometa ISD; Midland ISD; Moody ISD; O’Donnell ISD; Pearsall ISD; Region 2 Education Service Center (Corpus Christi); Region 5 Education Service Center (Beaumont); Region 6 Education Service Center (Huntsville); Snook ISD; Socorro ISD; Springtown ISD; Stafford MSD; Stephen F. Austin State University; Texas Tech University; Texas Woman’s University; and Timpson ISD.
In addition to the 2019–2021 Grow Your Own: Teachers, Cycle 2 grant program, TEA is also accepting applications for the 2019–2020 Principal Preparation, Cycle 2 grant program. Principal Preparation grants can be used by LEAs to cover preparation/certification costs and implement a full-time, year-long residency for their aspiring principals.
Applications for the 2019-2020 Grow Your Own: Teachers, Cycle 2 grant program and the 2019–2020 Principal Preparation, Cycle 2 grant program can be submitted through Nov. 13, 2018. Applications must be received by TEA by 5 p.m. (Central Time) on that day to be considered for funding. Grant application information can be found on TEA Grant Opportunities page on the TEA website.
Both the Grow Your Own: Teachers and Principal Preparation grant initiatives support TEA’s Strategic Priority to recruit, support, and retain teachers and principals. To learn more about the agency’s strategic priorities, visit https://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Welcome_and_Overview/TEA_Strategic_Plan/.
NEWS
Fire starts in transfer station building

Bowie fire and police emergency personnel responded to this structure fire call around 10:30 a.m. Friday morning. No details were available at this time on a possible cause, possibly from trash inside the station or inside a vehicle. (News photo by Barbara Green)
NEWS
Bell receives life in murder of Tia Hutson

Gregory Bell, 58, Saint Jo, was found guilty of the murder of Tia Hutson, 50, also of Saint Jo after less than an hour of jury deliberation Thursday afternoon.
She was found beaten and raped in her home in August 2022 and six days later never regaining consciousness. The jury also deliberated Bell’s sentence giving him the maximum life in prison and a $10,000 find. It took them less than half an hour to make the decision. A deadly finding also determined a large flashlight was used as a deadly weapon.

As the jury left the courtroom some members were seen hugging Trevor Riley, Tia Hutson’s son. His sister Kami Taylor, read a powerful victim’s statement to the court.
NEWS
Illegal dumping continues at Bowie Mission

Staff and volunteers at the Bowie Mission continue to be plagued by people who dump their unwanted furniture and other items at their gates and doors. Despite having signs stating this is illegal and that there are surveillance cameras on scene, dumpers don’t seem to be phased.
This past week several large pieces of furniture were dumped right in front of the gate where the trailer used to go pick up food bank items is stored. Cynthia Brewer, director said most of the volunteers are older and it is difficult to get these large items moved out of the way. She is at her wit’s end trying to get people to stop dumping and while she hesitates to file police charges the situation is getting untenable as people continue to violate the policy.
Anyone who observes illegal dumping at the mission is urged to call the police 872-2251.
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