By Quin Welch, Building Kentucky
The Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC) has partnered with Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC) and the University of Louisville (UofL) to launch a 9-12 Teacher Apprenticeship Program, a groundbreaking initiative designed to tackle the ongoing teacher shortage in Kentucky.
This Department of Labor (DOL) registered apprenticeship program provides a structured pathway for students in grades 9 through 12 to become certified educators in their home school districts. Through mentorship with lead teachers, dual-credit coursework at JCTC, and completion of an education degree at UofL, participants gain the skills and credentials needed to transition seamlessly into full-time teaching roles upon graduation.
“While some Kentucky school districts have implemented similar programs, OVEC is the first educational cooperative to develop a regional framework that allows multiple districts to participate without negotiating separate agreements with post-secondary institutions,” said Dr. Kathy House, OVEC Director of Educator Success. “This ‘Grow Your Own Teacher’ model empowers schools to identify and train future educators from within their communities.”
According to the Kentucky Department of Education’s educator shortage survey, 13% of all teaching vacancies remained unfilled for the entire school year. Only one Kentucky school district – Science Hill Independent – reported being fully staffed.
“Supporting school districts in addressing the teacher shortage is one of OVEC’s top priorities,” said OVEC Chief Executive Officer Jason Adkins. “Our member districts are adopting innovative approaches to increasing the number of teachers in the workforce. Giving students the opportunity to become educators through apprenticeships will benefit them, their schools, and their districts.”
The program’s framework was originally developed in Bullitt County by Dr. Lee Barger (Bullitt County Schools), Kim Boggs (JCTC), Dr. Charles Raines and Dr. Stefanie Wooten-Burnett (UofL), and Michelle DeEsch (Apprenticeship Workforce Consultant). It was later expanded to serve OVEC’s 14 member districts: Anchorage Independent, Bullitt, Carroll, Eminence Independent, Frankfort Independent, Gallatin, Grant, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Owen, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble Counties.
To commemorate this milestone, OVEC was awarded the DOL Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor Certificate during its Board meeting on Wednesday, January 29. For more information about OVEC and its programs, visit ovec.org.
