Licking Heights Local Schools announced that alumna Jillian Armentrout, Class of 2025, has been awarded the district’s first “Grow Your Own” teacher scholarship through the Ohio Department of Higher Education. This state-sponsored program provides scholarships to aspiring educators who commit to teaching in their home district for the first years of their career.
Armentrout, now a student at Ohio State University at Newark, is pursuing a degree in education with a focus on grades 7-12 mathematics. She is inspired by her love of algebra and the positive influence of her math teachers at Licking Heights.
“Mr. Paul Scott really made me want to get into math. It wasn’t something I enjoyed until I took his class, but he made it easy to understand and grasp,” she said. “I want to teach math so I can give what Mr. Scott gave to me.”
The “Grow Your Own” program will allow Armentrout to graduate debt-free, complete student teaching in the district and begin her teaching career at Licking Heights with guaranteed support and placement. She credits her high school experience, including participation in the in-house education pathway from C-TEC of Licking County at Licking Heights High School and encouragement from teachers like Beverly Chopin, for preparing her to take this step.
“This scholarship gives me the opportunity for a job right out of college, something that can be hard to find. It means I can focus on becoming the best teacher I can be, without worrying about student debt,” Armentrout said.
As part of the program, Armentrout will also join Licking Heights’ substitute teacher pool while completing her degree, and the district will provide ongoing mentorship and check-ins to ensure her success as she transitions into the classroom.
“We are incredibly proud of Jillian and excited to welcome her back into the Hornet family as an educator,” said Jocelyn Cosgrave, Director of Human Resources at Licking Heights. “The ‘Grow Your Own’ program allows us to invest in the next generation of teachers while supporting talented students who want to give back to the community where they grew up.”
Armentrout encourages other students to take advantage of the program.“I would say take the chance, even if it may not seem like the time is right. Having these opportunities can take you far,” she said.
With this first award, Licking Heights joins districts across Ohio in strengthening the teaching profession and ensuring that local students see themselves represented in their educators.
Information submitted by Licking Heights Local Schools.
