One of the most pressing challenges in public education today is the recruitment and retention of high quality teachers for America's schools. Research shows teacher shortages exist nationwide but vary by geographic area, content area, demographics, and individual schools. In a recent study of the Future Educators Association[R] (FEA) initiative in Jefferson County Public Schools (Louisville, Kentucky), cultivating and grooming the district's future urban teachers from within the ranks of the students themselves is working (Storm, 2008). To heighten awareness about careers in education and to begin the process of recruiting future teachers, in 2002 the Kentucky state legislature passed a joint resolution requesting that the state Department of Education set aside teacher recruitment funds to assist local school districts in organizing FEA chapters. The initiative was embraced by the Kentucky Department of Education, and the program was established in the Division of Educator Quality and Diversity in the Office of Leadership and School Improvement. Kentucky holds the distinction of having the most chartered FEA chapters in the nation. Additionally, Kentucky's public universities and two private colleges are active partners in the FEA initiative. The Kentucky Department of Education promotes the establishment of new FEA chapters by providing the charter fees for any middle or high school where educators want to start the program. Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) took the offer. More than 400 students are involved in the FEA program, with active chapters in every middle and high school within the district. Additionally, the district has partnered with the University of Louisville to form the Minority Teacher Recruitment Program. A district representative oversees the program and coordinates such events as the district FEA conference, tours of Kentucky universities, teacher shadowing experiences, and school-based and community-level service projects. The district sends the prospective educators to the state-level and national FEA conferences. Additionally, the Education Magnet Career Academy for students in grades 9-12 has been established. The program provides students with opportunities to participate in the educational community. Teaching skills are developed through job shadowing, an internship, and a paid co-op teaching experience. Students can earn college credit hours for courses taken in the program. The overarching goal is to strengthen the district's efforts in recruiting prospective minority teachers by establishing a career track that cultivates their interests, channels their efforts, and guides their path. By doing so, the district will fill its many teaching vacancies with educators who understand teaching and learning in an urban setting