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�鶹ԭ�� and  have partnered to create an apprenticeship program that will produce highly trained teachers.

“This new partnership typifies the mission of �鶹ԭ��. Anson County Schools was seeking a new pipeline for staffing its classrooms. Together, we have developed a solution custom-tailored to both the employer and the community. We look forward to seeing the long-term results of this partnership,” said �鶹ԭ�� President Dr. Maria Pharr. 

Through the apprenticeship program, aspiring teachers will be able to work as teacher assistants for the school district while they pursue their education at �鶹ԭ��. �鶹ԭ�� offers a number of academic pathways designed for future educators. These include an Associate in Arts and Associate in Science in Teacher Preparation. These programs are designed to lead students to four-year universities.

Once apprentices complete their bachelor’s degrees, they’ll be prepared for careers as full-time teachers within the Anson County school district. 

Anson County Schools has had prior success with teacher assistants becoming full-time teachers. The apprenticeship program with �鶹ԭ�� creates a formal pathway for nurturing teacher assistants into classroom teachers. 

“We’ve found that teacher assistants that go on to complete their bachelor’s degree with teacher licensure have had a really high rate of success in classrooms, which is great for our students. This program helps us to build our own sustainable methods of recruiting and developing potential future teachers,” said Anson County Schools Executive Administrator of Human Resources & Operations Dr. Joshua McLaurin.

He continued: 

“Our long-term strategic staffing plan for Anson County Schools includes sustainability and succession planning where we recruit, train, and retain students/employees from Anson County.  Successful school districts don’t operate in triage mode in regard to staffing. There has to be a plan to build our own pipelines of teachers from Anson County. Our employees are our greatest resource, the key to having great schools is having great teachers, great leaders, and great staff in every building.” 

Anson County teacher apprentices will start earning retirement benefits, will be paid a starting wage of $15.72 an hour, and will build professional networks that will assist in their future career advancement. 

Moreover, teacher apprentices will gain invaluable real-world experience. 

“It’s so beneficial to have already had experience in a school, to know the school district and school-based initiatives,” said Becky Flake, principal of Lilesville Elementary.

“Teacher assistants are exposed to standards for grade-level content, pacing, implementation of curriculum and programs. They are so far ahead when they start working as teachers.” 

Wadesboro Primary Principal Heather Gerald has previously hired teacher assistants into full-time teaching positions. 

“To be honest, when teachers enter the classroom, a big problem is often classroom management. Teacher assistants have already learned strategies and interventions to mitigate bad behaviors. They’ve already worked past that barrier. They’ve built relationships, and they’re more confident,” she said. 

Anson Board of Education member Lisa Davis was instrumental in creating the apprenticeship program. She is excited that the apprenticeship program provides local students a path back into the classrooms where they were once students. High school students are eligible to participate in the apprenticeship program.  

“When you think about what make a community great, it is all about people coming together with solutions,” she said. “I think the teacher apprenticeship is the perfect resource at the best time.” 

For more information on the Anson County Schools teacher apprenticeship program, contact �鶹ԭ��’s Director of Apprenticeships and Work-Based Learning Russell Carpenter at rcarpenter@spcc.edu or McLaurin at mclaurin.joshua@anson.k12.nc.us.