While working as a secretary in Portage Public Schools, Austin Giles knew he wanted to one day be a teacher, but he didn’t know what route he would take to get there.
With the help of the District’s teacher pipeline program, Austin began an accelerated teaching program while also working as a part-time substitute teacher and paraprofessional at Portage Northern High. He worked under his mentor teacher Laurie Kuiper (pictured with Austin above).
Thanks in part to the PPS “Grow Our Own,” program, Austin will graduate this weekend with a master’s degree in special education from Western Michigan University and begin teaching full-time at Northern High.
In October 2022, PPS launched “Grow Our Own,” a financial assistance program for current PPS employees to further their education and become certified teachers. The grant was modeled after the Michigan Department of Education program that aims to address the statewide shortage of teaching staff in Michigan schools.
With a bachelor’s degree in French already under his belt, Austin will now have a master’s degree and the necessary requirements completed to become a full-time teacher in Michigan.
“It’s been a really, really great experience,” Austin said of the accelerated program at WMU. “I would recommend it to anyone.”
Austin said he searched for financial assistance to further his education and was appreciative to be chosen for the District’s program.
“I love our school district,” said Austin, who will raise four children in PPS. “I want to thank both my high school administration and District administrators for their support through the whole process.”
Austin took night classes to complete his degree while working in the daytime at PNHS. His wife was fully supportive while he pursued his dream to become a teacher.
“I can’t thank her enough,” Austin said.
The “Grow Our Own” program was made possible by a $20,000 grant from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. Austin is one of the first newly certified teachers to graduate with help from the program.
Congratulations to Austin!