While many fields have embraced apprenticeships as a model to recruit qualified candidates and address staffing shortages, education has long lagged behind.
Through a partnership with Minnesota State University, Mankato, Owatonna Public Schools is one of three districts participating in Forward Together, the first registered teacher apprenticeship program in the state. Six apprentices in Owatonna, all paraprofessionals with prior experience, are set to graduate as fully licensed special education teachers in 2026 upon completion of the program.
The other districts involved are Minneapolis Public Schools and North Branch Area Public Schools. In total, 25 apprentices are enrolled in the program.
Joining the program is part of a larger effort in the district to recruit teachers in the midst of a nationwide teacher shortage. In a survey of over 1,000 K-12 public schools released by the National Center for Education Statistics, 86% reported challenges hiring teachers for the 2023-24 school year, citing special education, physical science and foreign language positions as the hardest to fill.
Speaking at a recent session of Coffee and Conversation, a monthly informational event held by the district, Superintendent Jeff Elstad said the shortage is being felt at the local level.
“The loss of teachers is at epidemic levels. We don’t have enough teachers graduating to fill open positions as we move forward,” said Elstad.
He noted 17 teachers at Owatonna High School are likely to retire in the coming years, making recruitment efforts all the more urgent.
According to Director of Human Resources Chris Picha, the district has multiple unfilled special education roles, putting a greater number of cases on the existing teachers, and she only expects the shortage to grow more severe in the future.
Apprentices will receive hands-on classroom experience, as well as the support of three journey teachers. They will spend one semester each working in elementary, middle school and high school classrooms. Once they’ve experienced the full range of age groups, apprentices will spend their final semester at the level of their choice. The program is open to current school staff who have a two-year degree or qualifying credits and are seeking a teaching license. Following their graduation, the district will have first right of refusal.
In a key distinction between the program and the traditional teacher prep model, apprentices will be paid for their work, and will see their pay increase as they earn more credits, whereas student teachers are often unpaid.
According to Assistant Director of Special Services Heather Schutte, recruiting special education teachers can be especially difficult because they must meet a high standard and be passionate about working with each student.
Schutte serves as Owatonna’s district liaison for the program, and works closely with people in equivalent roles in the other districts. She hopes to see more districts joining in the future, and expressed her gratitude that MSU is pursuing solutions to the teacher shortage.
She believes the apprenticeship program improves upon the traditional model by placing prospective teachers in the classroom much earlier. Instead of gaining hands-on experience when most of their coursework is already complete, apprentices will work with students throughout the entire program, applying what they’ve learned from coursework in real time. When they’re not in the classroom, apprentices will report to the district office for online learning.
Apprentice Amy Richter began working as a paraprofessional at Owatonna High School in 2023. While she found the job rewarding, she wanted to take the next step and become a special education teacher. When the apprenticeship opportunity became available, she immediately began the application process.
“When I learned that there is a severe shortage of special education teachers, I felt it was the right time to finally pursue my dream of becoming a teacher. I have seen how these amazing students can thrive with a supported education and wanted to add to the number of educators who make this possible,” said Richter.
She described the program as an “incredible opportunity,” noting she’s found a supportive and encouraging community in her fellow apprentices, as well as administrators and journey teachers.
Journey teacher Wendy Camerer, a special education teacher at Owatonna Middle School, said participating in the program has helped her take a more intentional approach to teaching and reflect on her classroom practice. At this stage, much of her duties involve modeling the role of teacher to the apprentices, but they will take on more and more teaching responsibilities as they find their footing.
Camerer said special education is an amazing job, but comes with additional stressors that traditional candidates may not be prepared for. Aside from all the responsibilities that come with any teaching job, special educators have to address students’ unique needs to navigate state and federal regulations — something that may contribute to newcomers leaving the field.
“I’ve seen so many students go through the typical college process and then get to the job and they don’t like it,” said Camerer.
Camerer believes the program will yield better results by focusing on people who’ve already demonstrated an interest in special education and know what they’re getting into. Camerer expressed pride in the apprentices for “taking a big leap of faith in themselves,” noting she feels confident the program has found a promising batch of educators.
In another initiative to recruit new teachers, the district is also participating in the state-funded Grow Your Own program, which aims to boost the racial diversity of Minnesota educators. The program includes separate pathways for adults and secondary students, particularly people of color, to pursue a career in education.
Local News
Comments / 0