Investing in Our Own: Mady Searcy Is the First Teaching & Learning Graduate to Complete the Path from PRP Student to JCPS Teacher
In an era when teacher shortages challenge districts nationwide, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is implementing a long-term solution by investing in its own students through the Academies of Louisville. Nowhere is this strategy more evident than in the story of Mady Searcy, a graduate of the Pleasure Ridge Park (PRP) High School Teaching and Learning Pathway, who has now returned to her roots to inspire the next generation of learners.
For Mady, the journey has always pointed toward the classroom. "I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. When I look at my kindergarten 'what do you want to do when you grow up?' I wanted to be a teacher,” she shared.
Her dream found its formalized path during her sophomore year at PRP. "It was almost like the door opened at a perfect time when they introduced the Teaching and Learning Pathway at PRP,” Mady recalled. This pathway served as the essential bridge between ambition and career, providing the necessary experience and mentorship to ensure her success.
From High School Student to Teacher Leader
The Academies model emphasizes real-world application, and the Teaching and Learning Pathway delivered. Throughout her three years in the program, Mady gained indispensable hands-on experience that affirmed her career choice.
“For my sophomore, junior, and senior years in high school, we got to go to Greenwood [Elementary] to just read to the students. We were paired with a teacher, and we would go into their classroom,” Mady explained. “I got the opportunity to grade some papers. I got the opportunity to see a plan book. That was one of my first opportunities to step into the classroom as a teacher.”
This deep dive into the profession prepared Mady to graduate from Indiana University Southeast in just three years with a dual degree in elementary and special education. But the Academies’ investment in Mady paid an even larger dividend when she returned to JCPS.
“We’ve always said that investing in our own students is the smartest long-term strategy we can make. Seeing Mady come full circle—from student to teacher—shows that those investments are already paying dividends for our schools, our community, and our future.”
The Promise of the Conditional Offer
Mady was part of the first cohort of students in the Teaching and Learning Pathway to receive a Conditional Offer of Employment from the JCPS Human Resources department. This crucial benefit guarantees graduates who continue their education in the teaching profession an interview and top consideration when positions become available. Mady is now the first Teaching & Learning graduate to complete this path and return home to JCPS to educate the next generation.
This outcome is a powerful validation of the district's strategy. Beau Johnston, Director of CTE for JCPS, noted:
"We’ve always said that investing in our own students is the smartest long-term strategy we can make. Seeing Mady come full circle—from student to teacher—shows that those investments are already paying dividends for our schools, our community, and our future."
Mady’s return was even more remarkable. After completing her student teaching at Eisenhower Elementary, she accepted a permanent position, taking over the classroom of her former mentor—who was also her own second and third-grade teacher.
“God made magic and I ended up getting to take the classroom that I student taught in, from the mentor that I had when I was eight and nine years old, so it was completely full circle,” Mady said.
Her former teacher, Rhonda Johns, affirms the pathway's success: "I would say a lot of the character traits that I saw in her when she was younger–caring, empathetic, positive, nurturing–I still see those qualities in her as an adult, and it's just been an amazing journey to know her from a child and to be able to see her to grow and develop."
A Commitment to Community
Today, Mady’s impact is felt directly by the students in her classroom.
“She is very kind. She does a lot of stuff to help,” shared student Levi, adding, “She’s a great teacher, and we all want to make her stuff for being great.” Caison agreed, noting, "She helped me with some words that I didn’t know. She helped me sound them out. She's helpful and understanding, because she’s nice.”
For Mady, the decision to return to JCPS was one of purpose. "I grew up in JCPS all throughout my life. I felt like I needed to service my due diligence for the district that did so well for me and that taught me to be the human that I am,” she stated.
As the first Teaching & Learning graduate to complete the path, Mady Searcy’s success proves the Academies of Louisville model is already delivering the future educators JCPS needs.