Tennessee expands teacher apprenticeship program with $5 million subgrant

The Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Grow Your Own Center announced a $5 million subgrant to increase access and remove barriers many students face entering the education profession.That funding will help expand the Tennessee Teacher Apprenticeship Program focused on creating a local teacher pipeline.The five teacher apprenticeship educator preparation providers (EPPs) receiving the funding include Austin Peay State University, Lincoln Memorial University, Arete Memphis Public Montessori, Lipscomb University and the University of Memphis. The subgrant will help these institutions launch the program, enroll candidates, and cover institutional costs."Since the department launched the Grow Your Own initiative in 2020, we are thrilled to see higher education partners and school districts come together in innovative ways to help more aspiring teachers enter the profession,” said Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “Our collaboration and shared commitment to create high-quality teacher apprenticeship programs will increase the number of qualified educators across the state serving students in our classrooms.”Currently there are nine EPPs in Tennessee offering teacher apprenticeships to over 30 school districts and serving over 200 candidates. Since 2020, the program has served approximately 650 students and partnered with 63 school districts, destroying barriers and creating pathways for Tennessee students seeking careers in education.This year, the new apprenticeship models will focus on strategically addressing district staffing shortages with high-quality programs that span from master and bachelor programs to licensure-only pathways."The subgrant award allows our EPP to expand access for teacher assistants and paraprofessionals who might not otherwise be able to complete our teacher licensure programs. In addition to the obstacle of university tuition, the other costs of the degree program (e.g., textbooks, Praxis costs, computers) often prove to be barriers for students,” said Celia Anderson, Interim Assistant Dean, College of Education, University of Memphis. “We are thrilled that the subgrant will allow us to fund a truly no-cost program for teacher apprentices that will open up new opportunities to prepare excellent teachers."The department, in partnership with the University of Tennessee, is leading teacher apprenticeship programs through the Grow Your Own Center. The Center is designed to give Tennessee students opportunities for educator credentialing.  It also provides districts and apprenticeship candidates access to programs and degrees at no additional cost.