Gaylord Community Schools gets $1.5 million to help aid staff in teacher development

Karly Graham, The Petoskey News-Review
·2 min read

GAYLORD — Gaylord Community Schools recently received a grant for $1.5 million to help aid the district in teacher development.

As a part of the Future Proud Michigan Education Grow Your Own Staff Grants, the Michigan Department of Education has awarded the district $1,552,022. The grant is a part of a larger allocation led by the state to help develop teachers within local school districts.

The grant will allow Gaylord Community Schools staff members the opportunity to pursue additional certifications and endorsements in elementary education, special education or school counseling. The district is collaborating with Central Michigan University and Western Michigan University.

Gaylord Community Schools was one of 80 districts awarded money in the first round of the grant process.
Gaylord Community Schools was one of 80 districts awarded money in the first round of the grant process.

In a media release, the district's Human Resources Director Melissa Reinelt said there will be an interview process for interested candidates and once they are approved, they will be able to complete degree requirements at no cost to them.

She told the Gaylord Herald Times that the graduate and undergraduate degrees that are available are either 100 percent online or hybrid. The funds will help cover tuition, registration and testing fees, books, travel costs, and substitute employee costs.

“We are very excited about the possibilities for our staff and the ability to continue to develop our talent pool for our district,” Reinelt said.

In the media release, Gaylord Superintendent James Cracraft said the funding will help provide opportunities for staff members while also helping address the teacher shortage.

“The educator shortage is a major challenge facing our schools across the state,” said Cracraft. “The new funding will provide support for districts to address this shortage and provide new opportunities for current staff members.”

Reinelt said the grant will help add qualified candidates to the workforce by removing different barriers when it comes to seeking a degree in education. She said the Gaylord Community Schools employees that have expressed interest in the grant so far are already successful in working with children, and giving them the opportunity to get further degrees and certifications will continue helping students in the district.

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to all our local coverage impacting your community

Gaylord Community Schools was one of 80 districts awarded money in the first round of the grant process.

According to a state media release, some other Northern Michigan districts receiving the first round of funding include Beaver Island Community School, Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools and Wolverine Community School District.

“We are incredibly proud to have been selected as a recipient of this grant,” Reinelt said in an email. “It is an honor for us to help provide such a remarkable opportunity to competent and dedicated individuals who are already invested in our school community.”

— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Gaylord schools get $1.5 million in teacher development grant