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Polk County to pilot teacher apprenticeship with Polk State to convert paraprofessionals to certified teachers
Summary
District presented a two‑year, competency‑based apprenticeship with Polk State College for paraprofessionals to earn a bachelor's in elementary education while working as co‑teachers; pilot will start with 10 apprentices pending state and local approvals.
Polk County School District leaders told the board on March 25 they are pursuing a pilot teacher apprenticeship program with Polk State College designed to help paraprofessionals become certified teachers while remaining employed in district classrooms.
Senior Director Anne Everett described the planned pathway: qualifying paraprofessionals (for example those with an associate degree and a minimum GPA) would serve as paid teacher apprentices, paired with mentor teachers in a co‑teaching model for two years. Apprentices would document competency‑based coursework and classroom artifacts during the program; the final semester serves as a supervised internship. If apprentices meet all certification requirements, they would receive a Polk State bachelor's degree in elementary education with an ESOL endorsement and a possible reading add‑on.
Everett said Polk State would receive state grant funding to pay tuition for apprentices; the district proposed completion bonuses to keep apprentices on track and noted state funding may also cover mentor teacher bonuses. Mentor teachers must meet minimum qualifications (for example five years' teaching experience, a ‘highly effective’ performance rating and completion of clinical supervision training) and the district said it will provide job descriptions and supervision supports for mentors and apprentices.
Board members welcomed the “grow‑your‑own” approach and the superintendent said the program aligns with district recruitment and retention goals. Everett said the district submitted its application to the state in September and is awaiting final program approval; the district expects a limited initial cohort (10 apprentices) for a pilot year and will scale up if the pilot demonstrates success. The pilot includes marketing, an open house with Polk State, a summer boot camp for apprentices and workload supports so apprentices function as co‑teachers, not paraprofessionals.
Ending: Staff will finalize memoranda of understanding with Polk State and the district's unions, begin targeted recruitment, and return implementation details and candidate selections to the board once state approval and local agreements are in place.
