Bay District Scholars program helps to fill classrooms amid teacher shortages

BAY COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – The current teacher shortage has forced school districts to come up with creative ways to fill classrooms. Bay District schools decided to fill some of those vacancies with people already on campus.

Amanda Sulpher began her education career as a paraprofessional, with some college. When Bay district schools came up with the scholar’s program, she decided to take advantage of it and complete her degree.

“I mean going back to school this late in my life. It was a big step and honestly, financially without this I would have not been able to do it. And this in this timely type manner,” West Bay Elementary math teacher Amanda Sulpher said.

The scholar program allows district employees the opportunity to further their education without having to compromise.

With a nationwide shortage of teachers, the program focuses on allowing educators to grow within the Bay District while also working to achieve both their academic and professional goals.

They can continue to work while taking classes at Gulf Coast State College or the FSU Panama City campus for free or minimal cost.

The Bay Education Foundation and the St. Joe Community Foundation pick up much of the cost. But the program’s impact extends beyond the employees. Students see someone they know and relate to, who is working hard to advance their career.

“Seeing someone like Amanda Sulpher, who believes now in herself that she can do it and she’s so close to the finish line is great. And our kids, our scholars get to see the, you know, our own grow and go through the difficult things, so it’s been great,” West Bay Elementary School Principal Deniece Moss said.

The scholars program will enroll its third cohort in October, who get support from each of the previous classes. Amanda is teaching 5th-grade math at West Bay Elementary. She graduates from the scholar program in the spring.

The program anticipates the graduation of the program’s first cohort of employees to move into classrooms by next fall.

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