Teacher apprenticeship program to launch 3rd cohort

South Dakota’s successful Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway program will be offering a 3rd 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.

“Throughout schools in South Dakota, paraprofessionals provide invaluable support to teachers as they educate students in the classroom,” said Secretary of Education Joe Graves. “Their experience in the classroom and their clear commitment to students make them ideal teacher candidates. This program allows them to continue earning a living while earning a valuable teacher certification.”

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.

“In recent years, teachers have been hard-to-fill positions with some of the highest number of job openings in South Dakota,” said state Labor and Regulation Secretary Marcia Hultman. “This pathway is achieving great results and will positively impact our teacher workforce well into the future.”

Through the program, participants earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary, secondary, or special education while continuing to work as a paraprofessional in their school. Northern State University (NSU) and Dakota State University (DSU) offer the necessary coursework over a two to three-year period, culminating in a student-teaching experience and resulting in the completion of a bachelor’s 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 Department of Education, NSU, DSU, South Dakota Board of Regents, 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 Department of Education’s Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway webpage. Applications close on April 1; those selected will be notified by June 15.