Trine University seeks teacher apprenticeship expansion. Photo courtesy of Trine University.

News Release

ANGOLA — Trine University’s transition to teaching program, known as Trine’s Education Apprenticeship Model has been awarded a $30,000 group apprenticeship grant from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

The grant will support the expansion of T.E.A.M.’s Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program throughout Indiana to more school district partners in all DWD regions. The grant will also support T.E.A.M.’s research and development of a Registered Principal Apprenticeship Program.

“We know that Registered Apprenticeship Programs are a key strategy to creating a robust pipeline of Hoosier talent that positively impacts Indiana’s economic strength. We are thrilled to be able to fund and support Registered Apprenticeship Programs through Group Sponsorship,” said Jason Graves, Senior Director, Office of Work Based Learning and Apprenticeship with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

RTAP Expansion

Trine’s Franks School of Education launched its Transition to Teaching program in 2022. In early 2024, after ensuring the T.E.A.M. model was successful, FSOE pursued and received approval as a Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program through the U.S. Department of Labor.

T.E.A.M.’s program offers three licensure tracks for teacher candidates: the Elementary Program, the Secondary Program, and the Special Education Program. Upon completion of the 10-month cohort-based program, teacher candidates are only 12 credit hours away from earning a Master’s Degree in Education at Trine University.

“T.E.A.M. addresses the need for a quality teacher residency program to license emergency permit and transition to teaching permit teachers,” said Amy Heavin, Ph.D., director of Transition to Teaching for Trine. “T.E.A.M. aims to expand its group apprenticeship program throughout the state of Indiana, serving more regions and district partners to facilitate teacher recruitment and retention through the apprenticeship program.”

The RTAP expansion will consist of program promotion and outreach, targeted recruitment of underrepresented groups in education, physical expansion into more Indiana regions and partnerships with school districts.

New Principal Program

Along with T.E.A.M.’s RTAP program expansion, the grant will also support T.E.A.M.’s research and development of a registered principal apprenticeship program in Indiana. Although the program would not be fully developed and in use by the end of the grant’s timeframe, the design, feasibility, and development of the program would begin.

“The education and training landscape for principals has evolved significantly in recent years, yet there remains a persistent shortage of qualified school leaders,” said Heavin. “By creating an apprenticeship model for the principalship, building-level leaders will learn while doing the work with mentorship support and coursework.”

The new principal apprenticeship project will consist of comprehensive research and analysis of existing principal apprenticeship programs, the development of a viable program design and the construction of a replicable structured program model.

“We are very excited to grow our current apprenticeship throughout the state and serve more districts and future educators through our program. This will be a great way to share our work with more of the state and look to future apprenticeship opportunities,” Heavin announced.