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Isle of Wight joins ODU 'Grow Your Own' apprenticeship program; five local paraprofessionals selected
Summary
School division staff told the board that Isle of Wight will partner with Old Dominion University as fiscal agent for a VDOE-backed 'Grow Your Own' teacher apprenticeship program. The program picks up costs for apprentices' degrees, provides mentor pay, and requires a local service commitment when licensed.
Isle of Wight County Schools officials reported April 10 that the division has secured five apprenticeship slots in a teacher apprenticeship program run by Old Dominion University with funding from the Virginia Department of Education.
The program, described by presenters as a registered teacher apprenticeship pathway, allows current paraprofessionals with qualifying credits to earn a bachelor’s degree and teacher licensure while working in the district. Old Dominion University is acting as fiscal agent and administrator for participating divisions; the presenters said ODU received funds from the Virginia Department of Education to support 45 apprentices across partner districts and Isle of Wight was allocated five of those slots.
Program details: Apprentices will start coursework in May (Maymester) and will continue summer and regular terms through practicums and coursework; the apprenticeship cohort is scheduled to complete by June 30, 2027. The division said the program is structured to be no cost to participating candidates: presenters said tuition, textbooks and technology fees are covered, and candidates were asked to apply for Pell grants or other aid but will not carry student loans for the apprenticeship. Mentor teachers approved by the division will be paid $2,000 per candidate they supervise.
Participants named by the division include paraprofessionals Claudia Sheeler (Smithfield Middle School, special education pathway), Caitlin Jones (Smithfield Middle, elementary path), Heather Jordan (Windsor Elementary, elementary path), Lexus Brinkley (Windsor Elementary, elementary path) and Riley Holding (Carrollton, special education path). The presenters said the apprenticeship cohort was selected through an application and transcript audit process.
Retention and pipeline elements: Presenters said the division is negotiating commitments for licensed participants; board members were told that when candidates complete licensure they will be expected to teach in Isle of Wight for a defined period (presenters stated a three‑year commitment). The division also described complementary efforts to develop CTE‑to‑paraprofessional pipelines in high school that can feed the apprenticeship program.
There was no formal vote; the item was informational and board members asked questions about obligations and funding.
