PIERRE South Dakotas Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway program will be offering a third cohort, thanks to funding provided by the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation.
The program provides paraprofessionals, or teacher aides, the opportunity to become fully certified educators. Applications are now being accepted for a cohort that will start this July. The program has room for up to 50 apprentices.
There are currently 160 paraprofessionals participating in the program; seven have graduated and are now certified teachers. The Department of Education estimates that 56 will graduate in May.
Through the program, participants earn a bachelors degree in elementary, secondary, or special education while continuing to work as a paraprofessional in their school. Northern State University and Dakota State University offer the necessary coursework over a two to three-year period, culminating in a student-teaching experience and resulting in the completion of a bachelors degree in education. All coursework is offered virtually at convenient times, so participants can continue to work while enrolled. School districts provide a local mentor to support the apprentices throughout the process, and the universities provide mentors as well.
The program is a collaborative effort of the state Department of Education, NSU, DSU, South Dakota Board of Regents, state Department of Labor and Regulation, and local school districts. Each partner plays a unique role in supporting the apprentices, whether academically or financially.
Information about the program can be found on the state Department of Educations Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway webpage.
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