New teacher apprenticeship program tackles teacher shortage

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A new program is coming to Warren County designed to tackle the statewide teacher and school leadership shortage.

Select high school students from Nelson County are getting a firsthand opportunity to experience education as a career in a new collaboration with Western Kentucky University.

Seven students will be selected to serve in the first apprenticeships for teachers in the commonwealth.

The apprenticeships are designed to instruct high school students on the concept of being a teacher, principal, superintendent and school psychologist.

“The teachers and the staff that are responsible for bringing up our young people to be our next generation of leaders are critical to the survival of our communities,”  said Corinne Murphy, dean at the WKU College of Education. “So, quite frankly, without this foundation and without this work into re-strengthening the foundation, we’re going to be in real trouble.”

The teacher apprenticeship program is the first of its kind in the commonwealth.