College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

The 2nd Annual WKU Teacher Apprenticeship Summit, themed "Grow Your Own: Apprenticeships and Innovation in Educator/Administrator Recruitment," is set to take place on Wednesday, April 17th, 2024, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Central Time. Hosted by Western Kentucky University at the Knicely Conference Center, this statewide summit aims to equip school districts with insights and tools necessary to expand their certified educator and school leader workforce. 

The 2024 summit builds upon and extends the knowledge base from the prior year.  Key features of the summit include:

• Introduction of the first Kentucky Registered Apprenticeship preparing Principals
• Discussion on the "Classified-to-Certified" pathway for existing district employees and the Teaching and Learning CTE pathway for high school students.
• Small group break-out sessions for detailed discussions on specific topics, including funding opportunities and content delivery.
• Guidance on navigating the apprenticeship paperwork process with WKU's assistance.
• Opportunities for live Q & A sessions and networking with experts to address district-specific needs.

The summit will cover critical areas including:

• The significance of apprenticeship programs in teacher and principal recruitment and retention.
• USDOL requirements and expectations for registered apprenticeships.
• Development of tailored K-12 Teacher or K-12 Principal Work Process and Related Instruction Plans.
• Strategies for partnering with university education preparation programs.

Presenters include Timothy Caboni, President of Western Kentucky University, Corinne Murphy, Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, and various directors and experts from WKU. More speakers will be announced as they are confirmed.

Anyone is welcome to attend this conference, but it will be aimed at serving:

• School District Superintendents
• District Human Resource Managers
• High School Principals
• High School Guidance Counselors
• Educator Preparation Providers
• District Personnel involved in Principal/Teacher Preparation and Recruitment

The Summit has been approved for six hours of Effective Instructional Leadership Act (ELIA) credit.

For registration and further details, visit https://www.wku.edu/teacher-apprenticeships/summit2024.php.