Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Workforce topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pitt County Schools, PCC and ECU unveil North Carolina’s first registered K‑12 teacher apprenticeship
Summary
Pitt County Schools announced a state‑registered teacher apprenticeship in partnership with Pitt Community College and East Carolina University to recruit and train local educators through pre‑apprenticeship, teacher assistant apprenticeship and teacher apprenticeship pathways, with scholarship support and college credit options.
Pitt County Schools on Monday announced a new, state‑registered K‑12 teacher apprenticeship program developed with Pitt Community College and East Carolina University to expand the local educator pipeline.
Dr. Patterson, the district official presenting the program, said NC Apprenticeships approved the partnership and called it “the first K12 teacher apprenticeship that is actually a registered apprenticeship in North Carolina.” The program creates multiple entry points: a pre‑apprenticeship for high school juniors and seniors, a teacher assistant apprenticeship (Pathway 1) and a teacher apprenticeship (Pathway 2).
Under the apprenticeship design, participants will meet the registered‑apprenticeship minimums and receive on‑the‑job hours and classroom instruction. Presenters described a training minimum of about 2,000 work hours per year and at least 144 contact education hours per year; Pitt Community College coursework was estimated at roughly 948–965 hours over two years in the examples presented. Apprentices will be paid in a position that contributes to retirement and, on completion, may qualify to begin at a higher salary step as certified teachers.
District and university officials said scholarship supports will reduce tuition costs. Pitt County Schools cited the district education foundation and Pitt Community College’s Bulldog Promise scholarship; East Carolina University representatives mentioned teaching‑fellows and other education scholarships available to program participants.
Board members asked whether credits can transfer between institutions; presenters confirmed students with an associate degree from Pitt Community College can continue toward ECU programs and that apprentices may enter at different points depending on prior credits and experience.
East Carolina University and Pitt Community College officials who attended the meeting praised the collaboration. Board members described the program as a local model for growing and retaining teachers and encouraged outreach to prospective participants.
The board received the presentation; partners and district leaders agreed to continue implementation planning, scholarship outreach and student recruitment. The presentation began at the new‑business portion of the meeting and drew multiple partner remarks and board questions.
