WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE)- The Kansas State Department of Education announced it’s new initiative to combat the teacher shortage with the state’s first ever teacher apprenticeship program.

Advertisement

Assistant Secretary of Commerce Mike Beene said this program is crucial right now with the teacher shortage at an all time high. His hope is as aspiring teachers are mentored by experienced educators they will develop relationships with colleagues and school districts, causing them to stay in Kansas. He said it’s especially important to take care of the education system, calling it the secret sauce to economic development.

“When we have a teacher shortage we have a future shortage,” said Kara E. Belew, a high school teacher at Andover Central and the 2020 teacher of the year.

The apprenticeship is a four year long program similar to a traditional college experience. However students will be working hands on in classrooms and being mentored by teachers from day one. All while getting paid and earning their college degree. Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson says he thinks this will open many doors for people who thought college wasn’t for them.

“These are people that generally could not afford college or could not see their path of going to college to become a teacher,” said Dr. Watson.

Students will work full time at one of the eight participating school districts during the day and at night they will take classes working towards their degree. These classes will be a teacher training program through a college accredited by the KSDE. To get this program off the ground the KSDE is partnering with Wichita State University but they hope to add more colleges through the years.

Advertisement

In the classroom, students will assist in lesson planning, verbal instruction, grading, student assessments, and more. As they get further into the program they will be given more responsibility.

While school may be out for the summer, learning won’t stop. Apprentices will meet with Kansas teacher of the years to grow more.

The pilot program will start this fall with 15 aspiring teachers heading to schools across the state. Dr. Watson said they plan to add more spots each year.

“We envision within four to five years we would have five to eight hundred young people in this program who would not envision going to college at all, nonetheless to become a teacher,” said Dr. Watson.

The apprenticeship models other similar programs in different career fields. Examples listed at the workshop were medical professionals, welders, trade positions, and now teachers. Beene said they’ve seen great success come from those and that this new program is historic.

Advertisement

The money for the pilot program is coming from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief. Funds for this are given to the KSDE. The school districts who are participating in this will also be awarded grants to cover tuition costs, half of the apprentice’s wage, and mentor teacher awards.

Right now there are eight school districts participating:

  • Salina Unified School District 305
  • Wellington USD 353
  • Lyons USD 405
  • Dodge City USD 433
  • Auburn-Washburn USD 437
  • Tonganoxie USD 464
  • Topeka USD 501
  • Attica USD 511