For more than three decades, educational professionals and researchers have warned about the impending teacher shortage in America's public school system. As we are currently in the midst of the shortage, school districts are facing the reality of fewer qualified teachers and filling the teaching gaps. This is especially evident in high-poverty and rural school districts. It is the job of higher education institutions to respond to this urgency and offer alternative pathways to the teaching profession. Teacher preparation programs are investigating alternative routes to teacher certification: accelerated, cohort-based, and community-grounded programs. Katie Heath has seen the impact of bringing an alternative pathway to teaching to those invested in this career path. A cohort-based model allows students seeking initial certification in teaching to proceed through a program as a group. This article examines a university's program known as the Pathway to Teaching Program. This program emphasizes the importance of life experiences and community-based teachers. Teacher preparation programs found that "Grow Your Own" programs can encourage potential/ interested teachers in the community to stay and teach in their community.