Lakeland part of state’s first teacher apprenticeship program
Lakeland University is among the partners in Wisconsin’s first teacher apprenticeship program, which will help state school districts address ongoing concerns with hiring, training and retaining teachers.
The pilot program will train teachers for instruction in elementary and middle school classrooms using the Wisconsin Apprenticeship earn-while-you-learn structure. Participants complete education requirements, certifications and licensure while learning to be a teacher in the classroom.
Apprentices will earn an associate degree from the Wisconsin Technical College System and a bachelor of arts in elementary and middle school education (K-9) from Lakeland.
The teacher apprenticeship pilot program is a partnership between employer school districts, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin Technical College System and Lakeland.
Several school districts contacted the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development to determine if apprenticeship could help solve the issue of attracting, training and retaining teaching staff.
To meet employer demand and industry need, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards collaborated with partners to launch the teacher apprenticeship pilot program.
“As a longtime leader in innovative educational offerings, we are proud to be involved in another first-of-its kind offering in Wisconsin,” said Lakeland President Beth Borgen. “This partnership leverages our strong relationships with the state’s technical colleges and our commitment to learning that happens on the job through our Cooperative Education program.
“We’re celebrating 45 years of delivering bachelor's degrees to working adults. The teacher apprentice program is the latest way we can partner with our peers to provide solutions to regional and statewide educational challenges.”
School districts that participate in the teacher apprenticeship pilot program gain access to Wisconsin Apprenticeship, a proven talent attraction, retention and training model. Apprenticeship provides a sustainable talent pipeline to help employers fill open roles.
Apprenticeship provides prospective teachers with greater on-the-job learning and mentorship experiences, helping them grow confidence in their ability to manage the classroom experience before teaching on their own. Apprenticeship also expands teaching opportunities to people who may not otherwise be able to afford to go to college and become a teacher.
Under the teacher apprenticeship pilot program, participants earn while they learn, putting a required degree - and a teaching career - within reach.
Email apprenticeship@dwd.wisconsin.gov with any additional questions or visit the program’s website.
