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Summer Allen accepted into WCU’s Grow Your Own Initiative

Summer Allen (seated) has been accepted into William Carey University’s Growing Your Own Initiative. Pictured with Allen are (from left) Dr. Katie Tonore, William Carey University; Dr. Jeff Quin, Lawrence County Technology and Career Center director; Patsy Sandifer, LCTCC counselor; and Jessica Rutland, LCTCC Teacher Academy instructor.


Lawrence County Technology and Career Center’s Teacher Academy hosted a signing day on April 28 for Summer Allen as she accepted the offer to William Carey University’s Grow Your Own Initiative. This is the first of its kind for LCTCC and the Lawrence County School District.
Jessica Rutland, Teacher Academy instructor, stated, “I am proud to be the instructor of a program that can grow educators for our county and our state. I am also thankful that William Carey sees the urgency of an impending teacher shortage and is focused on being proactive.”
During her years in Teacher Academy, Allen was eager to begin her journey toward a career in teaching and set her sights on William Carey.
Allen states, “I have gained so much experience that will be beneficial for my future in education.”
She took both WCU dual credit classes during her second year of Teacher Academy. Currently, Allen is completing LCTCC’s Work Based Learning program in order to gain insight into the real-life expectations of an educator in the Lawrence County School District. The partnership between Teacher Academy and WCU will help ensure that we continue to grow our own teachers in order to meet the needs of our students and our communities.