Tennessee recognizes teacher program for National Apprenticeship Week

The Tennessee Department of Education is recognizing the work its Tennessee Teacher Apprenticeship program is doing during this week’s 8th Annual National Apprenticeship Week.The program incorporates the state’s Grow Your Own model and was the first registered apprenticeship program for teaching in the country. The Grow Your Own initiative aims to set a new path for the educator profession and help address teacher shortages.“This week, we are proud to highlight the many amazing apprenticeship programs across Tennessee that help students identify their strengths and passions in the workforce to boost their readiness for success after high school graduation,” said Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Schwinn. “I am especially excited to highlight the Tennessee Teacher Apprenticeship, providing our students with multiple avenues into the teaching profession for free.”Tennessee established its permanent Grow Your Own model in January 2022  with the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System and Austin Peay State University's Teacher Residency program, becoming the first registered apprenticeship program for teaching in the country. Tennessee is also the first state to sponsor Teacher Occupation Apprenticeship programs between school districts and educator preparation programs.“The Tennessee Teacher Occupational Apprenticeship is addressing three problems of practice in the field of education: teacher diversity, teacher shortage, and educator preparation,” said Dr. Sean Impeartrice, Chief Academic Officer at Clarksville Montgomery County Schools. “This program has provided meaningful opportunities that employees would have otherwise missed out on. Our teacher residents reported that the competency-focused experiences and wraparound supports are their most valuable resources in their program experiences.  Residents also report significant improvements in self-efficacy thanks to the program’s rigor, residents’ exposure to different departments, and ongoing mentor feedback.”“Tennessee’s ‘Grow Your Own’ program is a groundbreaking initiative that will have a tremendous impact on our schools,” said Holly Free-Ollard, State Apprenticeship Director, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce. “Because of the collaboration between Apprenticeship Tennessee and the Department of Labor, our state is now a model for the nation on how to create a Registered Apprenticeship program for teachers.”Beyond the Tennessee Teacher Apprenticeship, high school students have access to six registered apprenticeship programs in machining, welding, maintenance, culinary arts, mechatronics, and information technology. Additionally, over the past 12 months, there are now 20 Tennessee Certified Pre-Apprenticeship programs to help high school students transition into apprenticeships across 14 different programs of study in Tennessee.The National Apprenticeship Week is celebrated nationally to highlight how apprenticeship programs build a stronger workforce and address labor market challenges.