In a step forward for workforce development and educator recruitment, the Alamance-Burlington School System has officially launched its new Education Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship programs.
The initiative places ABSS among a small group of school districts leading the way as one of only 14 K-12 school systems in North Carolina, and just the second in the Piedmont-Triad region, to establish a registered K-12 apprenticeship program.
Strategically aligned with Pillar 2, Staff Recruitment and Retention, of the district's strategic plan, these dual programs aim to recruit, train, and retain high-quality, home-grown teaching talent directly within Alamance County public schools.
The ABSS Education Apprenticeship Program offers an accelerated career advancement track for current district employees, specifically Instructional Assistants and graduates of the district's Teacher Scholars program.
"We are excited to launch the ABSS Education Apprenticeship because it transforms the path to becoming a teacher for our valuable Instructional Assistants," said Jodi Hofberg, Teacher Scholars Coordinator. "This Education Apprenticeship, along with our aspiring future teachers program, Teacher Scholars, provides an opportunity for us to secure home-grown talent in our schools. Together, we are building a stronger educator pipeline and creating opportunities that benefit our students, schools, and community as we are Advancing Alamance."
Complementing the adult apprenticeship track, ABSS is simultaneously launching its Education Pre-Apprenticeship Program for high school students. Supervised by Terri Drummond, Director of Career and Technical Education, the pre-apprenticeship provides students with foundational knowledge in teaching and learning alongside hands-on, work-based learning experiences inside ABSS classrooms.
Through the model, high school students gain early exposure to the education profession while building practical skills for future registestered apprenticeships or post-secondary degrees in education.
State leaders at ApprenticeshipNC, the State Apprenticeship Agency operating under the North Carolina Community College System, hailed the launch as a critical step for regional workforce health. "ApprenticeshipNC is extremely exited to see how this program will grow and how it will help address the critical needs of Alamance County regarding training and retaining new teachers," stated Bo Bunn, Registered Apprenticeship Consultant with ApprenticeshipNC.
The implementation directly advances the primary goals under Pillar 2 of the ABSS Strategic Plan:
Goal 2.1: Recruit a talented workforce through multiple outreach opportunities.
Goal 2.3: Retain staff through professional growth and career advancement opportunities.