UNL’s apprenticeship program expands to address teacher shortages

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln's College of Education and Human Sciences is expanding its teacher apprenticeship program with Lincoln Public Schools and creating new partnerships to benefit 15 schools in Educational Service Units 5 and 6 through new funding from the Nebraska Department of Education's Grow Your Own Teacher Apprenticeship Program.

The college was awarded $700,000 to fund seven apprenticeship program options in areas with severe educator shortages. Six of the programs will lead to endorsements and licensure in special education through the university's Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders, while the seventh will prepare early childhood inclusive educators in Lincoln Public Schools through the university's Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies.

“We are excited to expand our apprentice training program to include ESUs 5 and 6, as well as to continue partnering with Lincoln Public Schools,” said Sue Kemp, professor of practice in special education. “We look forward to training 24 new, highly qualified special education teachers who will be able to support students with disabilities in their districts.”

ESU 5 includes Beatrice, Bruning-Davenport, Deshler, Fairbury, Freeman, Meridian, Southern, Thayer Central and Tri County. ESU 6 includes Centennial, Crete, Norris, Seward, Waverly and York.

The special education partnership with LPS is an expansion of the pilot program started this summer as a structured, on-the-job learning model to prepare eight current employees for successful careers as special education teachers. The new expansion adds the option for candidates with associate’s degrees to receive their bachelor’s degrees, as well as the endorsement and licensure.

“Although it was initially scary to try something so new and innovative like this, I am so glad that I did,” said Abbey Traynowicz, an apprentice at Lincoln Southwest High School. “Being a part of this apprenticeship has challenged me and helped me grow as a person and as a professional. I am so excited to become a special education teacher and have had so much great support while working hard to get there.”

The new funding allows the university to extend the special education partnership to rural school districts in ESUs 5 and ESU 6. Districts within those service units will select their employees who qualify to participate in the apprenticeship program. Like LPS, each ESU and its member schools have options for candidates with bachelor’s degrees, as well as those with associate’s degrees.

“It is a tremendous opportunity to partner with UNL in the special education teacher apprenticeship program,” said Chris Prososki, superintendent of Southern School District 1, one of nine schools in ESU 5. “As a rural Nebraska district, we look forward to the possibility of growing our own, well-qualified special education teachers to ensure we continue the high-level services our students deserve.”

The College of Education and Human Sciences is also adding an early childhood inclusive apprenticeship program option to its partnership with LPS. This option is for undergraduates who have 60-plus credits completed.

The college was one of eight educator preparation programs selected for funding by NDE. Teacher apprenticeship programs were established by the U.S. Department of Labor in January 2022 and are designed to provide another option to prepare teachers. In addition to helping address educator shortages in key areas, apprenticeship programs provide apprentices with on-the-job, structured training to achieve licensure in a way that will increase teacher retention within those areas.

The Grow Your Own Teacher Apprenticeship Program and the newly funded partnerships were celebrated during a press conference at Paddock Road Elementary School in Omaha on Nov. 6. Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Brian Maher and Gov. Jim Pillen spoke as part of the celebration, which was also attended by officials from the U.S. Department of Labor and Nebraska Department of Labor. Pillen also signed a proclamation declaring National Apprenticeship Week beginning Nov. 17.