Become a Teacher without Leaving the Mackenzie Region
- Mar 23
- 4 min read
“Grow Our Own” Bursary Offers Full Tuition Coverage and a Paid Internship
Teachers are the backbone of a healthy community. That’s why the Fort Vermilion School Division (FVSD) has developed an innovative solution for recruiting teachers called the
“Grow Our Own Bursary Program.”
Now, Mackenzie Region residents can become local teachers by earning a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree without leaving the community. Eligible applicants will be reimbursed for the cost of their tuition for all four years, and they will even receive a paid internship as they enter Year Four.
If this sounds like an amazing opportunity, don’t delay—the application cutoff date is June 26, 2026.
“In the past, attracting teachers to come up North and join our communities wasn’t quite so difficult. There was a sense of adventure in coming here, and there was a higher demand for permanent positions,” said FVSD Associate Superintendent Terry Gibson. “It’s a lot more challenging now, and even when we do attract new teachers, they don’t often stay long term.”
FVSD is not alone facing this challenge. According to the Public School Boards Association of Alberta, in September 2024, only 75% BEd graduates in Alberta stay in the province. This has led to a major gap in availability of suitable candidates for open positions, especially in more remote and rural areas.
“Local residents becoming our teachers is mutually beneficial,” said Grow Our Own Bursary Program Coordinator and Instructor Dr. Matthew Kierstead. “Teaching careers can be demanding, so having support from family and lifelong friends can help new teachers adjust and thrive.”
How it Works
As of this year, FVSD is partnering on this program with Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) in Grande Prairie.
Now, students complete their classes through a combination of online, video conference and monthly in-person sessions with Dr. Kierstead and other faculty.
“Most of our students are working jobs or balancing other aspects of their life,” said Dr. Kierstead. “This program is designed with those challenges in mind. Roughly half the class are mature students coming back to formal learning. If you have thought about getting a degree in education, consider how easily this program can fit into your life.”
Those interested can apply directly on the FVSD’s website. There are a few easy-to-answer questions. Three references are required as well as a short essay.
“Once accepted into the bursary program, they will get a code to bypass the registration fee, and they can begin their registration process with Northwestern Polytechnic if they haven’t already,” said Dr. Kierstead. “If accepted, applicants will be expected to sign a 3-year return of service agreement with FVSD.”
The Grow Our Own Bursary Program opens many doors that would otherwise remain closed for a lot of local students—whether they cannot leave the area due to family or work obligations or afford the financial burden of attending a large university far away.
A first of its kind in Alberta, this is a unique opportunity to earn a BEd degree and launch into the teaching profession. By design, it removes major barriers to entry and provides compelling financial incentives.
“We offer a paid internship in the fourth year, which is not the norm,” said Gibson.
Unlike other BEd programs in Alberta, the fourth year includes a full-time internship without classes or assignments. The first three years of the degree are accelerated, so students complete their required coursework before starting the school placement. And, fourth-year students can expect to be paid the same as first-year teachers.
“The students can fully commit and sink into their teaching positions. They are matched with other teachers as mentors. They can get to work right away and apply everything they learned,” said Gibson.
This program sets students up for success. FVSD partners with NWP to ensure the coursework has a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy teaching techniques with a focus on how to implement intervention tools, so no student is left behind.
“The research is clear: a teacher who sticks around in a school long term is more beneficial for the kids. It takes time for anyone to become a really good teacher. Having to rehire every two or three years can really be taxing on our division. The kids reap the rewards of having consistency,” said Gibson.
Putting students first also means giving teachers a great start to their careers.
“The Grow Our Own Bursary Program positions FVSD for the future by developing local talent and supporting the priorities that matter most to our communities and stakeholders,” said FVSD Superintendent Michael McMann.
With this program, FVSD is helping to grow strong and healthy learning communities.
“We’re talking about an evolving way of learning,” said Dr. Kierstead. “This is about bringing knowledge into the community, so we can keep our community here at home.”
Interested in the Grow Our Own Bursary Program?
Apply today! Go to fvsd.ab.ca and click the Bachelor of Education Bursary.
Fort Vermilion School Division | 780-927-3766
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