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Alabama Office of Apprenticeship and Jax State Introduce State's First Teacher Apprenticeship Program

by Kelli J. Holmes

Jacksonville, AL (05/17/2024) — In a collaborative effort with the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship and three other esteemed Alabama universities, Dr. Christie Calhoun, Jacksonville State University Associate Professor of Education and Interim Associate Department Head, has spearheaded a groundbreaking initiative in education - the launch of Alabama's inaugural Teacher Apprenticeship Program. This pioneering program, born from our collective dedication, represents a significant milestone in the state's educational landscape, providing a transformative pathway for aspiring educators.

"Governor Ivey set clear marching orders for us to develop an apprenticeship program to remove barriers for people who want to become teachers," said Josh Laney, Director for the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship. "The AOA is truly thankful to have leading institutions like Jax State helping to forge these new paths in apprenticeship. We are looking forward to executing this pilot and seeing it flourish with the help of our great partners."

Over the past academic year, Dr. Calhoun has tirelessly championed integrating three critical academic programs at Jax State-secondary English Language Arts, Secondary Social Studies, and Elementary Education-into the innovative apprenticeship framework. These efforts have laid the foundation for a program that meets the evolving needs of the education sector and opens new avenues for aspiring teachers to gain hands-on experience and invaluable mentorship.

On Thursday, May 2, 2024, the culmination of these efforts came to fruition as the Alabama Office of Apprenticeships proudly registered the State of Alabama's FIRST teacher apprentice through the Jax State FutureEd Apprenticeship Program. This landmark achievement underscores the commitment of all stakeholders to revolutionize teacher preparation and support the next generation of educators.

"We are thrilled to announce the registration of Alabama's first teacher apprentice," said Dr. Calhoun. "This milestone reflects our dedication to innovation and excellence in education and signifies the beginning of a transformative journey for aspiring teachers across the state."

The introduction of the Teacher Apprenticeship Program signifies a paradigm shift in teacher education, offering a unique blend of academic rigor and real-world experience. As we look ahead, we are excited about the immense potential of this initiative to transform the educational landscape of Alabama, and we remain committed to expanding the program throughout the summer and in the years to come.

"The Jax State College of Education and Professional Studies has an esteemed tradition of producing highly qualified educators, said Dr. Kimberly Gaiters-White, Dean for the College of Education and Professional Studies. "We also continually explore innovative and creative strategies to help our school partners meet their current critical staffing demands. As such, we embrace Governor Ivey's apprenticeship initiative and are happy to host the state of Alabama's first teacher apprentice at Jax State."

For more information about the Teacher Apprenticeship Program and how to get involved, please visit www.alapprentice.org

About Jacksonville State University: Founded in 1883 as a state teachers college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percentage of accredited programs. Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, Jax State offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate level. To learn more, visit www.jsu.edu, call 1-800-231-JAX1 or e-mail jaxfacts@jsu.edu.

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