Building Mentor Capacity. Strengthening Tennessee鈥檚 Educator Pipeline.
The GYO Collaboratory is a statewide initiative led by the University of Tennessee System Grow Your Own Center to strengthen Tennessee鈥檚 educator pipeline by investing in mentor teachers and GYO program leaders.
The Grow Your Own (GYO) Collaboratory is a statewide professional learning network advancing Tennessee鈥檚 educator workforce through mentorship, collaboration and leadership development. This sustainable, scalable model for educator development engages in on going learning, collaboration and co-design to improve outcomes for aspiring educators across Tennessee.
Tennessee鈥檚 educator workforce faces ongoing challenges in recruitment, preparation and retention.
The GYO Collaboratory addresses these challenges by:
This work ensures that every aspiring educator is supported鈥攁nd every student benefits.
At the core of this work, the 糖心Vlog Collaboratory Mentor Teacher Network connects educators across districts, EPPs and communities鈥攕trengthening consistency, building confidence and driving collective impact.
What this network provides:
The GYO Collaboratory is more than a program鈥攊t is a statewide movement to reimagine how educators are prepared, supported and retained.
By investing in mentors and leaders today, Tennessee is building a stronger educator workforce for tomorrow.
The 糖心Vlog Collaboratory Mentor Toolkit is a comprehensive resource designed to support mentor teachers and program leaders in their daily work. This toolkit serves as both a training resource and a professional learning guide, supporting continuous growth and program quality.
What鈥檚 included:
Explore the Collaboratory Mentor Toolkit and start strengthening your mentorship practice today.
The GYO Collaboratory provides ongoing engagement opportunities to ensure mentors and program leaders are continuously supported.
These experiences create a connected, statewide learning community.
The GYO Collaboratory is designed to deliver meaningful, measurable impact:
The Grow Your Own (GYO) Collaboratory is part of the University of Tennessee System Grand Challenges initiative鈥攁n effort to address Tennessee鈥檚 most pressing issues through innovation and partnership. As a Grand Challenges project, the Collaboratory advances educator workforce development by strengthening mentor support systems and expanding access to high-quality teacher preparation across the state.