It's a Rap

At the Spring 2023 US Dept of Labor Eastern Seaboard Apprenticeship Conference, the question was asked, “if you could wave a magic wand and fix or add anything to the residency Apprenticeship model, what would it be?”

Great question. 

My mind immediately reflected on the legendary Ron Thorpe, late President and CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards who wrote, Sustaining the Teaching Profession. Dr. Thorpe’s seminal paper highlighted the important parallels to the successful medical residency model, about which he commented, “Since that time [WW II], most physicians move into residencies,…..These are intense phases of training during which new physicians see the breadth and depth of situations presented by patients. It is a time when the knowledge and skills learned in medical school become anchored in practice, but under the close supervision of experienced physicians (…) The medical profession has developed in (…) ways that can inform the development of the teaching profession ” [emphasis added].

We all know (and are relieved) that medical students spend several years applying their academic learning as residents in hospital settings under the guidance of Attending Doctors. The resident’s work is long and hard, but wages are provided which allows residents to focus on their studies and skills, rather than the financial costs of their career pathway. Medical residents are paid without question. 

Here’s the best part: Do you know who covers their cost of employment?  

Another great question. Hint: It’s not the hospitals. 

Residents are paid through U.S. taxpayer dollars as the cost was long ago embedded in the federal government healthcare arm, Medicare and Medicaid. And why should taxpayers via Medicare and Medicaid assume this fiscal responsibility? Because health care and well-trained doctors matters; a lot! And we can say the same about education and teachers, whose impact grows each and everyday!  

Now, back to that magic wand. With newfound powers, we’d leverage a teacher preparation model (residencies) that follows the medical residency pathway and embeds the funding in a broad-based federal model. This would allow teacher candidates to be paid a live-able wage in residencies as Apprentices, while applying academic coursework over at least one full academic year in the workplace; all under the watchful eye of accomplished practitioners. Surely our children deserve a teacher preparation model that promises to produce the best new educators this great country can provide; educators who will contribute to a sustained, competent, skilled teacher workforce. It will take a lot of conversations and work.  “Abracadabra”, let’s begin!