Fayette County Public Schools hosted a Teacher Signing Day on Thursday, meant to encourage graduating high school seniors going on to major in education.
The seniors signed a letter of intent to their college of choice in front of school officials, teachers and parents. The event was also meant to help raise interest in the profession at a time where Kentucky is facing a statewide teacher shortage.
Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman was among those in attendance as the event’s keynote speaker.
“They know that they're gonna have this village around them as they go through this process," Coleman said. “And so making it public, celebrating it, showing the students support is every ounce of importance being here today.”
Madelyn Justice is a graduating high school senior who plans to pursue elementary education at the University of Kentucky. She says she’s wanted to be a teacher since she was a child.
“I know every time I tell someone that I'm going into education, they look at me like I have five heads and I'm like, ‘What? Kids are fine, kids are great,’” Justice said. “But that need for education, that strong want for teachers, just makes me even want to go into education more and help out the county.”
School officials hope the local support will help develop and retain new educators when they graduate from college in four years.
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