This session will highlight Kansas’s Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program and the role it is playing in strengthening the state’s educator pipeline. With more than 350 teacher apprentices currently participating across nearly 80 school districts, the program provides a structured pathway for paraprofessionals and other school staff to earn their teaching credentials while continuing to work in their local schools. By combining paid on-the-job training with college coursework and mentorship, the program supports districts in developing and retaining highly qualified educators from within their own communities. Moderated by Joel Gillaspie of the Kansas State Department of Education, who oversees the program statewide, this panel discussion will feature leaders from Turner School District, ANW Special Education Cooperative, and Dodge City Public Schools. Each panelist will share how their district or cooperative has designed and implemented the Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program, including recruitment strategies, partnerships with higher education institutions, program supports for apprentices, and lessons learned from launching and sustaining the program. Attendees will gain practical insights into how districts and cooperatives are leveraging registered apprenticeships to address teacher shortages, expand access to the profession, and create sustainable “grow your own” pathways for future educators across Kansas.
