PROVIDENCE, RI - The Providence Public School District (PPSD) is making strides by transforming the way it builds its educator pipeline by growing talent from within its own walls. PPSD was one of the first school districts in the state to launch a formally recognized Pre-K Special Education and K-12 “Grow Your Own” Teacher Apprenticeship Program that was approved by the Rhode Island State Apprenticeship Council.

This milestone—the result of over a year of collaboration between PPSD, the National Center for Grow Your Own, state agencies, and local unions—tackles one of the biggest barriers to entering the teaching profession: the financial hurdle of unpaid student teaching.

By offering tuition assistance, books, study resources, and exam support, the Grow Your Own (GYO) program allows dedicated PPSD teacher assistants to earn their bachelor's degree or post-baccalaureate certification at no cost while keeping their current jobs.

The first four graduates of the program were officially hired into full-time teacher positions for the 2026-2027 school year. The four dedicated PPSD Teacher Assistants (TAs) are Isabelle Bruck of Robert Bailey Elementary Elementary School, Toeun Darocha of Asa Messer Elementary School, Rochanda Delves Johnson of Robert Bailey Elementary Elementary School, and Mayra Grijalva of George J. West Elementary School.

“As someone who worked as an educator and worked my way through continuous studies to become Superintendent, I could not be more proud of these four educators,” said Superintendent Javier Montanez Ed.D. “They already have the trust of their school community and now are making developments in their professional growth. It is a win for all of us.”

“One of the smartest investments we can make in our schools is in the people who already know our students, our families and our communities,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “The Grow Your Own program turns years of experience and dedication into a real pathway to lead classrooms and removes barriers that too often keep talented educators from taking that next step. Mayra, Rochanda, Isabelle and Toeun have spent years making a difference for our students, and I am proud that dedicated educators like them have the opportunity to grow their careers right here in Providence.”

The true power of the Grow Your Own program lies in the people it supports. The program invests in professionals who already walk the halls, know the families, and love the Providence community. Here are the stories of the first four full-time teachers hired from the program for the 2026-2027 school year:

From Bridging the Gap to Leading the Room: Mayra Grijalva

For nearly two decades, Mayra Grijalva put her dream of leading a classroom on hold. Over her 19 years serving Providence Public Schools, she prioritized raising her family and supporting her students as a teacher assistant.

As a bilingual educator, Mayra has long been an essential bridge for her community, stepping in to translate notes, parent-teacher conferences, and phone calls for Spanish-speaking families. "I did it because of the need," she explained. "Why not help my community?"

Determined to reach her ultimate goal, Mayra completed a teacher assistant-to-bachelor’s program but needed a pathway to full certification. That’s when she learned about the GYO program. The district provided the financial and academic support she needed to cross the finish line. Today, after 20 years of dedication, Mayra is stepping into her own classroom as a Kindergarten and 1st-grade Special Educator at West.

“That’s why I love the name ‘Grow Your Own,’” said Mayra, who has served the West Elementary School community for 15 years. “I was already here — I just needed the opportunity to grow.”

A Full-Circle Journey: Rochanda Delves Johnson

For Rochanda Delves Johnson, the inspiration to teach came from the PPSD educators who shaped her own childhood. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School teachers instilled confidence in her at an early age and sparked a lifelong desire to give that same gift back to the next generation.

Rochanda began her career with the district in 1999, spending 16 years at Mount Pleasant High School before realizing her personality and passion for relationship-building were better suited for elementary education. She transitioned to Webster Elementary and has spent the last four years at Bailey Elementary.

Despite her passion, becoming a lead teacher had seemed out of reach because it required giving up her full-time TA income to complete student teaching. The GYO program eliminated that barrier, allowing her to complete her student teaching in a second-grade room right in her own building and complete her observation hours in the community, all while juggling online master's classes at Rhode Island College. Next year, she will be the lead teacher in a second grade Behavior Intervention Program (BIP) classroom.

"It was definitely a lot of time management and working nights and weekends," Rochanda shared. But the hard work pays off when she sees the impact in real time. Her favorite memory from this year was watching a new, hesitant student finally flourish. "To see him build confidence in himself... he felt he couldn’t do it, and then he did."

Championing the Whole Child: Isabelle Bruck

Isabelle Bruck knew she wanted to teach fresh out of high school. After gaining early experience as a substitute teacher in Seekonk and at the MET, she realized elementary education was her true calling. She joined Providence Public Schools as a kindergarten teacher assistant at the former Alan Shawn Feinstein Elementary School at Broad Street in 2022. When the school closed, she found a home at Robert Bailey IV Elementary School as a 1st and 2nd-grade Teacher Assistant.

For Isabelle, the GYO program provided the perfect structure to advance her career. She shared balancing full-time work with demanding observation hours was a rigorous challenge. But her motivation and deep commitment to the social and emotional well-being of her students kept her moving forward:

"I want to make a difference in a child's life both academically and socially-emotionally," Isabelle said. "I want to teach core academics, but also teach a kid to be the best version of themselves and instill confidence. Work hard and do good. Sometimes I think students teach us more than we can teach them."

Making a Difference: Toeun Darocha

A Teacher Assistant since 1997, Toeun Darocha recently completed her Bachelor's degree at Lake Erie College in Mild-moderate Special Education through the Grow Your Own Program. In July, she was hired as an Elementary Special Education Educator at Asa Messer Elementary School.

“My passion for education comes from my own experience,” explained Toeun. “I came to the United States from Cambodia because of the war and started second grade without knowing any English. I struggled throughout elementary school until I met a fifth grade teacher who believed in me. He never punished me for what I didn't understand. Instead, he supported me, gave me work I could understand, and celebrated my progress. He showed me how one teacher can make a difference in a child’s life. That experience inspired me to become an educator so I can give my students the same support, encouragement, and belief in themselves.”

The GYO program allowed Toeun to work while completing her degree and gain teaching experience in the field. “I learned how to understand and teach the classroom curriculum while supporting students with different learning needs,” said Toeun.

The Future of Providence Classrooms

Mayra, Rochanda, Isabelle, and Toeun represent the heart of PPSD's transformation. As Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez noted, the district is creating clear, supported pathways into the profession specifically for those who already have deep roots in the city.

By removing systemic barriers and investing in the talent already within its walls, Providence Public Schools isn't just hiring new teachers—it is elevating its most dedicated community members to lead the next generation.

As Mayra puts it: “Invest in us. There are people here who truly want to teach. We just need the opportunity to grow.”