WKU News

Over 100 Individuals from Kentucky school districts, community colleges, universities, and government agencies met at WKU’s Knicely Conference Center for the second Grow Your Own Summit. This year’s event, held on April 17, 2024, included information about teacher apprentice programs, principal apprentice programs, and other innovative ways to recruit future educators.

The Summit started with opening remarks from WKU President Timothy C. Caboni and CEBS Dean Corinne Murphy. Caboni spoke on the importance of recruiting and retaining teachers and administrators, especially in rural districts, and emphasized that WKU and the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences is here to help. Murphy explained WKU’s current program offerings, and said this year’s conference will expand on the framework discussed at last year’s event.

New this year, teacher apprenticeship students from Nelson County and Grayson County schools shared their experience in the program. They highlighted all the experience they are receiving in the classroom, the cost savings, and the support from both their home districts and WKU.

WKU’s partnership with Fayette County Public Schools is the first and only Department of Labor approved K-12 Principal Apprenticeship in the state, and only the second in the nation. The hope is to expand this model to other districts in the commonwealth.

Various breakout sessions were also offered this year to allow participants to get more in depth into topics creating apprentice programs.

Speakers from WKU, Educator Registered Apprenticeship (ERA), Intermediary (RTI International) Nelson County Schools, and Grayson County Schools talked about their experience with the current apprenticeships and what those considering building their own programs need to know and what their next steps are.

For more information about Grow Your Own and Apprentice programs, please contact the WKU School of Teacher Education at 270-745-5414.