The University of Hawaiʻi will expand its teacher apprenticeship program as part of its dynamic, responsive solutions to help address the ongoing statewide teacher shortage.
This “earn and learn” model supports greater accessibility to teaching pathways, connecting future educators with the opportunities and mentorship they need to build thriving, lifelong careers within the Hawaiʻi’s public school system. UH will be expanding the apprenticeship opportunities to include the Early Childhood Education program at Honolulu Community College.
In July, the U.S. Department awarded a $4.9-million State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grant to establish a K–12 teacher apprenticeship program. This program partners closely with the College of Education at UH at Mānoa to enable aspiring teachers to earn their bachelor’s degree and obtain licensure at no cost, while gaining real-world experience in the classroom.
Supporting future, current educational professionals
“In conjunction with statewide efforts to bolster the teaching workforce, program faculty and staff from across the UH system have joined in collaborative strategy sessions to align education program curricula and streamline degree pathways,” said Christine Beaule, UH director of workforce development. “These efforts ultimately work to remove obstacles to program completion for students wishing to pursue teaching careers. Through collaborative, proactive problem solving, UH is energized to support future and current educational professionals throughout their careers, and to closing the gaps in teaching workforce needs across our state.”
In particular demand are teachers trained in special education, Hawaiian immersion, and placements within hard-to-staff locations, including rural areas. To address the targeted needs of school systems across the state and encourage retention, the Hawaiʻi Board of Education has implemented salary differentials that incentivize teachers to fill positions with the most critical need.
Teacher apprenticeships are part of a larger partnership between UH, the Hawaiʻi Department of Education and the State Legislature to collaborate on innovative statewide programs and strategies to grow and support Hawaiʻi’s teachers. Workforce development is also one of the UH System Strategic Plan’s four imperatives.
