Building Awareness
Learn more about the innovative model of Apprenticeships to develop the next generation of educators.
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From Celebration to Sustained Support: Honoring Educators Beyond One Week
Across New York State last week, classrooms were filled with celebrations: bulletin boards covered in kind words, carts of snacks making their rounds, surprise coffee deliveries, catered lunches and heartfelt notes from students and families. It’s a beautiful moment and one that’s well deserved. But it also raises an important question: why just once a Continue reading
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Educators Always Knew—The Rest of Us Are Just Catching Up: The Importance of Meeting Future Educators’ Needs as We Build the Pipeline
Over the weekend, I was sitting with a few friends who are current educators. As someone who has worked in education for the last decade but not as a classroom teacher something clicked for me. In talking about their experiences, I realized what teachers have known all along: the best way to support learning is Continue reading
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Pioneering the Future: Harpursville Blazes the Way with NYS School Administrator Apprenticeship
Across the country, the call for dynamic, well-prepared school leadership is growing louder and New York is stepping up in a big way. Leading this charge is Harpursville Central School District, the first in New York State to launch a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) for school administrators. This groundbreaking initiative is helping redefine how we Continue reading
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Expanding Opportunities: The Growth of Apprenticeships for Educators in New York State
The expansion of Registered Apprenticeship Programs for Educators (RAPS) in New York isn’t just about building a robust, highly skilled teacher workforce, it’s transforming lives. As we spoke with apprentices and stakeholders across the state, we heard powerful stories of growth, opportunity, and resilience. Seeing firsthand how these programs are transforming not just careers, but Continue reading
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Addressing the Rural Teacher Shortage: The Power of Registered Apprenticeships for Educators
Talk to any rural school leader in New York State, and a common challenge quickly emerges, finding and keeping great teachers and administrators is harder than ever. Limited housing options, lower salaries compared to urban and suburban regions, and fewer professional development opportunities make it difficult for educators to stay, even when they want to. Continue reading
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At What Cost? Unlocking the ROI of Registered Apprenticeships for Educators
Some recent feedback we received during a workshop stuck with me: “You need to SELL this harder and really drive home ROI.” And honestly, I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s made me rethink how we frame the conversations we’re having with key stakeholders. While we’ve always focused on the long-term value that Registered Apprenticeship Continue reading
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Educator Registered Apprenticeships and Grow Your Own: How Kennedy Children’s Center is Transforming Educator Preparation
At the heart of the Kennedy Children’s Center (KCC) lies a deep commitment to community—a commitment that has deeply resonated with me as I continue my journey of learning about innovative, community-centered educational programs and the current challenges faced by educators. Their leadership refused to accept traditional recruitment and training methods that failed to meet Continue reading
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The Evolution of Partnerships: Building the Educator Workforce Through Collaboration
Registered Educator Apprenticeships without strong partnerships are like a car with flat tires — you might move, but it’s going to be a bumpy ride! It’s the partnership conversations that keep things rolling smoothly and preparing future educators to get behind the wheel. What’s most exciting is how these collaborations break down barriers, build bridges, Continue reading
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A Closer Look at Educator Apprenticeships and Traditional Student Teaching
Because Preparation Matters! Let’s be real: teacher prep matters—now more than ever. With enrollment in teacher prep programs at an all-time low and teacher shortages hitting schools hard, I have come to realize the traditional student teaching model, where aspiring educators spend only a few months unpaid in classrooms, isn’t meeting the needs of the Continue reading
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Lost in Translation
Finding a Common Language in Registered Apprenticeship for Educators Have you ever felt overwhelmed by jargon while trying to learn something new? I definitely did when I first entered into this work. The concept of using the age-old practice of apprenticeships to train educators is relatively new and involves collaboration between the Department of Labor Continue reading
It's a Rap 