Le Sueur‑Henderson board approves paid apprenticeship to train two parents as special‑education teachers

Le Sueur‑Henderson School District trustees on June 1 approved a paid apprenticeship program designed to move two parents into special‑education teaching roles.

The program, described by district staff as a "grow your own" pathway, will combine on‑the‑job training with coursework offered through Minnesota State University (MSU). District materials and trustees said grants will cover the compensation and related costs. A mentor teacher, Cammy Welter, was named to supervise and support the participants as they progress toward licensure.

Board members said the apprenticeship is intended to expand the pipeline of special‑education teachers by creating paid, supervised pathways for candidates who are already part of the school community. Trustees described the program as staged: a year of transition and familiarization with special‑education paperwork and processes, followed by greater classroom responsibilities in a subsequent year as participants complete licensure requirements.

The board moved to approve the program formally and the motion carried. Trustees also approved a related journeyman/mentor teacher role to provide daily oversight for apprenticeship participants.

District officials said the apprenticeship builds on partnerships with postsecondary institutions and existing grant opportunities; they said the arrangement is limited to the two named participants in this pilot and that grant funding covers the program’s costs. Detailed implementation steps, including exact start dates and the apprenticeship schedule, were described as to be finalized by administration.