“The apprenticeship pathway, which lets aspiring principals learn and train on the job, can help those saddled with student loans or a busy schedule find the time and money to pursue their leadership dreams, said Rob Gilstrap, the assistant superintendent of educator preparation at the Virginia Department of Education.
He and other state education leaders spoke during a recent webinar organized by the National Center for Grow Your Own, a nonprofit that helps states and school districts create apprenticeship pathways for teachers and principals.
“You shouldn’t have to go into debt to become a teacher,” said Donaldson, the founder and managing partner of the National Center for Grow Your Own, a nonprofit that provides technical assistance to states and school districts to establish teacher-apprenticeship programs. “When you remove the financial barriers, it’s amazing how many people want to become a teacher.”
“Whether parents, tutors, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, paraprofessionals, folks who have a heart for teaching, who, if simply given the opportunity — and, usually, what this means is removing the financial barrier — would make an excellent teacher if given the chance.” - David Donaldson
“The National Registered Apprenticeship in Teaching Network announced its launch last week in an effort to connect states that are exploring registered teaching apprenticeships approved by the U.S. Department of Labor to address educator shortages.
The launch of the network points to an emerging interest in using teaching apprenticeships and grow-your-own models as a tool to combat teacher shortages.”
