Thrive With Us: School District 197 Launches Teacher Scholarship Program
We’re thrilled to partner with Metropolitan State University to introduce a new initiative in School District 197—the Thrive With Us Scholarship Program. This initiative, similar to “Grow Your Own” programs, aims to recruit and prepare local community members for teaching roles within the district and help increase teacher diversity to reflect the students that the district serves.
“We believe that having a diverse and thriving educator workforce benefits all students and our community,” shared Tye Michaels, Director of Human Resources. “We’re excited about the program’s first cohort and the dedication these Warriors have already shown our district.”
The Thrive With Us program is open to Two Rivers High School seniors and district employees interested in obtaining a teaching license. Recipients receive full scholarships for their education at Metropolitan State University, mentorship from experienced teachers, and regular classroom observations. After graduation, recipients return to School District 197 to teach for at least three years.
We’re proud to introduce the inaugural cohort of Thrive With Us scholarship recipients: Caleb Tate, Cayla Friemann, Dominique Harness, and Keyla Betanzos. You may know them, as they have already been working in schools across our district as paraprofessionals!
For Keyla Betanzos, this opportunity is extra special because she grew up in School District 197 schools. “My siblings and I grew up in this district, so we got to meet amazing and inspirational educators through the years,” Keyla shared. “I’d love to give back to my community and be that inspirational educator to other students and families.” CONGRATULATIONS to our Thrive With Us scholarship recipients! We look forward to seeing their positive impact on our schools for years to come.