The UC Santa Barbara Gevirtz Graduate School of Education awarded grants totaling over $255,000 to 52 students in January. They were awarded through the Community Fellows Fund, an initiative where first-generation, bilingual and Santa Barbara-born graduate students can receive grants if they’re pursuing teaching careers within the Santa Barbara Unified School District.
The fund operates under the “Grow Your Own” model, which seeks to recruit individuals who have grown up in a local school district and bring them back as teachers. Nexus File Photo
Established during the 2019-20 academic year, the fund was created through an agreement with the Santa Barbara Unified School District and the backing of philanthropic investors, such as the James S. Bower Foundation and the Helen and Will Webster Foundation. Fellowship recipients are given priority consideration for teaching positions upon earning their credentials.
The program helps fellows start their careers ahead of most degrees in education.
The Community Fellows Fund operates under the “Grow Your Own” model, an umbrella term coined by New America, which seeks to recruit individuals who have grown up in a local school district and bring them back as teachers. This model aims to benefit students by providing educators who share their backgrounds and experiences regarding ethnicity, language and race.
The fund also aims to address local teacher shortages and encourage district graduates to give back to the community.
“A lot of our fellowship recipients talk about how they had a teacher who looked like them and was very impactful in their lives,” Director of Teacher Education at UCSB Victoria Harvey said.
Beyond financial assistance, the Community Fellows Fund provides recipients with access to an alumni network, experienced teaching mentors and support groups. These resources are intended to help educators navigate challenges related to identity and representation in the classroom, Harvey said.
One form of assistance the fund offers is a Future Teachers of Color support group. Faculty members and recipients alike meet monthly to discuss issues they face within the classroom and program related to their identities.
One of the most significant barriers to entering the teaching profession is the high cost of teacher education programs, according to Harvey. Traditional teacher preparation at UCSB requires full-time student teaching — in addition to coursework, Harvey said, which makes it difficult to maintain outside employment.
Teacher education programs typically cost between $10,000 and $30,000 per year, with the Gevirtz School ranging from $14,000 to $39,000 annually. This financial strain discourages many aspiring educators from pursuing the profession.
By easing the economic burden and fostering a strong support network, the Community Fellows Fund plays a vital role in strengthening the local teaching workforce and ensuring that students have educators who reflect and understand their experiences, Harvey said.
A version of this article appeared on p. 6 of the Feb. 20, 2025 edition of the Daily Nexus.
