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Cabot School Board hears proposal for special-education apprenticeship to grow teacher pipeline
Summary
District presenters proposed a registered apprenticeship enabling paraprofessionals with bachelor's degrees to train toward special-education certification while remaining employed; program pay schedule, mentor compensation and Department of Labor grant funding were outlined.
The Cabot School Board on April 15 heard a proposal for a special education registered apprenticeship aimed at creating a local pathway from paraprofessional to certified special education teacher.
Presenters Haley Beavert, Sherri Jennings and Jessica Baum described a multi-year program that would allow paraprofessionals who hold a bachelor's degree to complete required training while remaining in the district rather than leaving to student-teach. Under the plan, apprentices would receive a stepped wage schedule during training: $15.00 an hour in the first semester, $15.50 in the second semester, $16.00 in the second year, $17.00 in the third year and $18.00 in the fourth year. Upon program completion and placement as a special programs teacher, the proposal lists $25.00 per hour as the placement pay.
The apprenticeship would pair each paraprofessional apprentice with a "journey worker" (a certified teacher holding a lead or master designation). Journey workers would be offered $2,500 per semester for mentoring one apprentice and may mentor up to two apprentices in a single school year, according to the presenters. Program funding was described as coming from a Department of Labor grant; presenters framed the approach as a retention and workforce-development strategy to reduce vacancy pressure for special education roles in the district.
Board members asked no formal vote on the proposal during the meeting; it appeared as part of the curriculum report for board consideration. The district did not provide a firm timeline for when the program would begin, and specific enrollment caps or selection criteria for apprentices were not specified in the presentation.
If approved in later action, the plan would require journey-worker compensation and grant-awarded funds to be secured and would depend on participants meeting certification and district employment requirements.
