Fette authors successful teacher apprentice grant

This award is made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Labor’s State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grant and an annual investment from the state legislature, according to a press release by David Jespersen, public information officer with the NDE.

Adam Fette, CSC assistant professor and author of CSC's $71,000 portion of the grant proposal, said the award strengthens CSC’s mission to support schools, invest in the people who call them home, and ensure the next generation of teachers comes from the heart of local communities.

CSC’s portion of the grant will cover tuition, textbooks, fees, and certification exam costs for three apprentices. Each participant will complete about 60 credits online, supported by advising, mentoring, and residencies in their school districts. The latest round of funding adds three new CSC partnerships with Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, Loup City, and Freeman Public Schools.

Fette said the apprenticeship program supports collaboration between educator preparation programs and school districts to develop, train, and retain teachers. By investing in local paraprofessionals and community members already working in schools, the program helps rural districts address shortages in areas such as special education and elementary education.

“Apprentices are more likely to remain in their communities after certification, creating a sustainable pipeline of teachers,” Fette said. “Local communities are at the heart of this program. Districts identify candidates, often paraprofessionals or community members with strong ties to their schools, and provide mentoring, supervision, and employment during the residency. Because these apprentices are invested in their communities, the program builds a workforce that mirrors the student population and is far more likely to stay long term.”

CSC and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln will use the sub-grant funds to grow eight new partnerships with school districts while expanding partnerships and removing financial barriers for apprentices pursuing teaching credentials.

Since launching the pilot program and completing three rounds of funding, Nebraska’s Teacher Registered Apprenticeship initiative has grown to include eight educator preparation programs partnering with 50 schools, including 43 public school districts and seven non-public schools, with more than 200 apprentices projected to participate.