Willow Glen Resident
News
New grant money helps teachers move to San Jose
By Stephen Baxter
A new program that aims to attract teachers to San Jose received so many applications this summer that organizers plan to expand the project next school year.
The Teach Here Live Here program grants up to $5,000 to new San Jose teachers for security deposits and first and last month's rent on apartments. The program tries to ease the transition for new instructors who move to the city from more affordable areas.
In the last week of August, city officials signed agreements to fund $100,000 for the program, which was matched by the San Jose Education Foundation.
More than 20 of 54 teachers have received grant money so far, and the foundation has received at least 150 applications since it began in July.
"We got a huge response," said Claudia Avila-Martin, outreach coordinator for the San Jose Education Foundation. Looking to expand it next year, she said the foundation is now "aggressively" fundraising for it.
On July 19, Mayor Chuck Reed touted the project with a grant recipient at an apartment complex near the Woods Apartments at Capitol Expressway and Snell Avenue.
Since then, many other teachers have started working at local schools with help from the grants.
Katie Keefer is a 22-year-old teacher who recently moved to an apartment in San Jose. She began teaching special-education math and languages for sixth- to eighth-graders this fall at Peter Burnett Academy downtown. She said the grant bridged the gap from when she finished college to starting her new job.
"It was extremely helpful. I'm so grateful they have it," Keefer said.
Keefer graduated from Emory University in Atlanta, where her rent was far cheaper. She said had already planned to move to San Jose to teach, but the grant didn't hurt.
Her first paycheck will not arrive until the end of September, but she said the money the grant saved her allowed her to buy a 20-book library for her classroom.
There are some requirements for the grant, including an income of less than $59,400. Starting teachers in the school district earn a minimum of $44,000. The program tries to reach special education, math and science teachers because they are in demand in the district.
Some San Jose school districts have had other programs for teachers to buy houses in the city, but teachers who were eligible for money often were already entrenched in the community, Avila-Martin said. The new program fills immediate gaps in money for renters and provides an incentive to teach in San Jose, she said.
Grants have been given to teachers in at least 12 of its 19 school districts, spread fairly evenly throughout the city.
"We're just trying to attract the newest and best teachers," Avila-Martin said.
For more information about Teach Here Live Here or to donate, visit www.sjefoundation.org.
