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Garden City USD 457 approves teacher apprentice program to grow local pipeline
Summary
The Board of Education approved a five-position teacher apprentice program that embeds apprentices with experienced mentor teachers, uses state apprenticeship funding for tuition and stipends, and requires apprentices to enroll in an approved teacher-preparation program.
The Garden City Public Schools Board of Education on Monday approved a teacher apprentice program that will place five apprentices in district classrooms and use Kansas state apprenticeship funding to subsidize tuition and mentor stipends.
Board members voted to approve the program after a presentation from Chief Human Resources Officer Drew Tull and HR coordinator Leigh Anne Tone. The presentation said the program is modeled on a Kansas State Department of Education/KSDE apprenticeship framework and will pair each apprentice with a “guiding teacher” to provide on-the-job training over as many as four years while the apprentice completes required coursework.
Deputy Superintendent (presenting) said the district will place apprentices on a teacher contract with the same benefits and a starting wage placed in grade 13; apprentices will be employed full time and must enroll in an approved teacher-preparation program. The presenters said KSDE provides tuition support for apprentices and stipends for guiding teachers; the district expects the program to be budget-neutral by converting five vacant paraprofessional positions to apprentice positions.
Board members asked about workload, mentor continuity and academic monitoring. Tone said apprentices must provide semester grade reports and remain academically eligible; principals will recommend guiding teachers and administrators will monitor progress. The presenters said KSDE requires a two-week public posting for applications and that the district must submit applications to KSDE by June 1 for fall placement.
The motion to approve the program was made, seconded and carried by voice vote. The board directed staff to return with a one-year update on outcomes and implementation the following year.
The board also discussed related staffing and scaling: presenters said the district will start with five positions to ensure capacity for mentoring and paperwork and could expand the program in later years if staffing and administrative bandwidth allow.
