The Anchorage School District Teacher Apprenticeship Program offers a “grow-your-own” pathway for aspiring educators to earn their teaching certification while working in ASD classrooms.
A teacher apprenticeship is a paid, work-based learning program that combines on-the-job learning with formal instruction to prepare aspiring educators for certification, creating a pathway to the profession.
Apprentices earn while they learn, working alongside Journey Workers, experienced mentor teachers, during the school day and taking college courses in the evenings.
The program is approved by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and sponsored by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED). It is designed to remove financial barriers, provide meaningful mentorship, and strengthen the local teacher pipeline to better reflect the diversity of our students.
Our Goals:
Prepare highly qualified teachers through paid, hands-on classroom experience.
Create alternative certification pathways for current ASD employees and community members.
Address Alaska’s teacher shortage while keeping talent in our schools and communities.
Support paraprofessionals, substitutes, career changers, and recent graduates who aspire to teach.
Who can apply?
Current ASD employees, including paraprofessionals, instructional assistants, and substitutes who wish to pursue a bachelor’s or post-baccalaureate degree in education and earn their teaching certification.
What does “earn while you learn” mean?
Apprentices work full-time in ASD classrooms while taking college courses in the evenings. You receive a paycheck and benefits while earning your degree and certification.
How long does the program take?
Depending on your current education level:
Bachelor’s degree path: approximately 4 years
Post-baccalaureate certification: approximately 2 years
What kind of accreditation is this?
The initial cohort of apprentices will have the opportunity to earn a PreK-3 Early Childhood accreditation. Additional apprentice pathways are under development.
What support is provided?
Tuition payment through the Department of Labor and University of Alaska Anchorage
Mentorship from a certified Journey Worker teacher
Structured on-the-job learning hours and progress monitoring
Guidance from ASD Human Resources and Special Education departments
Where will the co-teaching opportunities take place?
The locations for the co-teaching positions will be determined based on the location of the Journey Worker Teacher. The certified Journey Worker Teacher will be a pre-K through 3rd-grade general education classroom teacher.
Can ASD employees at charter schools apply?
Yes. This program is created and budgeted through ASD, and the costs associated with sponsoring an apprentice are covered by ASD, the Alaska Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEED), and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Do I need to be a full-time employee to participate in the ASD Teacher Apprenticeship Program?
The program is an “earn while you learn” model, and teacher apprentices must be employed with ASD. As apprentices progress through the program, the final year will be spent in a full-time 7.5-hour co-teaching position with ASD. Interested candidates who are ASD employees do NOT need to be a current full-time employee in order to qualify for participation in the program; however, employees enrolled as teacher apprentices do need to work the necessary on-the-job learning hours for the purpose of meeting Department of Labor apprenticeship expectations.
Do I qualify for the two-year program if I have an international bachelor's degree?
Our partners in the UAA School of Education will work directly with you as your advocate to assist with all necessary steps to attain and transfer qualifying transcripts.
What will the process be like to select applicants to participate in the program?
The selection committee will follow a rubric that considers factors such as years of experience, current location, and principal recommendations.
Is this a Special Education program?
This program will prepare apprentices to be general education pre-K through 3rd-grade classroom teachers. We are happy to connect you with professional development opportunities available through the Special Education Department if you are interested in that course.
What if I don’t want to be a Pre-K-3 classroom teacher?
This is a pilot program. ASD is expanding our partnerships and anticipates expanding opportunities to include a variety of apprenticeship programs, including pathways in middle school and high school.
Once I complete the apprenticeship, will ASD decide which school I will be placed in as a new teacher?
Upon completion of the program, the apprentice will be qualified to be a general education classroom teacher. They will follow routine ASD hiring procedures to be placed as a classroom teacher.
If I don’t get selected, do I need to reapply next time?
Yes, applicants will need to reapply for each new apprenticeship cohort. The first cohort will be small; five applicants will be selected to participate in the January 2026 pilot of the ASD Teacher Apprenticeship Program. Applicants who are not chosen for the pilot are strongly encouraged to reapply.
Is this program based on an established model?
The program is approved by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and sponsored by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED). ASD and UAA have looked to Tennessee and New York to understand how other public schools implement apprenticeships and have built this program to meet the needs of our community’s workforce and potential apprentices.
Is the tuition reimbursed?
Even better, the ASD/UAA partnership is built with support from DEED, which provides grants to cover tuition costs. Apprentices will not see a bill from UAA. UAA will work directly through DEED to cover the cost of tuition, books, your praxis test, and more.
What is in it for ASD?
Apprentices will be required to fulfill four years of employment at ASD as a teacher.
Are classes in person or online?
All UAA classes are online via Zoom.
How much of a time commitment should I plan for?
Each class is one hour a week.
What if I cannot commit to ASD/UAA?
There are other apprenticeship opportunities out there, and ASD is happy to help you navigate.
