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Wayne County graduates North Carolina’s first K-12 teacher apprentice

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Angela Lamb (center) graduated as the first K–12 teacher apprentice in North Carolina and received a certificate from WCC President Patty Pfeiffer (left) and WCPS Superintendent Marc Whichard (right). Courtesy of Wayne Community College.

Wayne County Public Schools and Wayne Community College recently honored the first graduate of their teacher apprenticeship program — who is also the first K-12 apprentice in North Carolina, according to the college.

Angela Lamb, a recent East Carolina University graduate, completed the Educator Registered Apprenticeship, which was piloted by Apprenticeship Wayne to address the need for qualified teachers.

“We appreciate the strong and long-standing partnership that we have with Wayne Community College, as it has positioned Wayne County Public Schools to help cultivate a ready teacher workforce from within our district and county,” Dr. Marc Whichard, WCPS superintendent, said in a press release from the college.

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Apprenticeship Wayne is a registered apprenticeship program based at WCC within their Apprenticeship and Career Services Center. Since its establishment in 2019, nearly 150 apprentices have entered the program in a wide variety of sectors, including education as of 2022. The education apprentice program includes classroom-based instruction, the release said, along with paid, on-the-job learning experiences in WCPS schools.

The district also has a pre-apprenticeship K-12 program “that gives high school students an early start on the path to becoming educators,” the release said.

“Being the first in North Carolina to offer the Educator Registered Apprenticeship Program—in addition to the other ‘grow your own’ programming that is in place—speaks to the high level of collaboration, vision, and efforts that continues to occur between our two institutions in support of public education,” Whichard said.

Through the apprenticeship program, students are required to enroll in an educator prep program at a community college or a four-year university and then have in-classroom training planned around their school schedule, EdNC previously reported. As apprentices, they earn an hourly wage as instructional assistants and receive additional financial support for licensure assessments, assessment preparation, and anything else related to their training that may not be covered by other financial aid sources.

“By reducing financial barriers and providing a structured path into the profession, Wayne County is helping to build a stronger, more diverse, and better-prepared teacher workforce,” said Kristie Sauls, executive director of apprenticeships and career development at WCC. “Every student deserves a well-prepared, committed teacher in their classroom.” 

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The apprenticeship program lasts up to three years. Throughout their time in the program, students can be on track to earn an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in a related education field, or teaching license, the district told EdNC. Additionally, the apprentice will earn a nationally recognized certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor and ApprenticeshipNC.

Lamb, the first K-12 apprentice in the state, served her apprenticeship at Tommy’s Road Elementary School, the release said. There, she worked under the mentorship of licensed teachers while pursuing her degree, and worked on leading lessons, supporting student learning, and “building meaningful relationships with her third-grade students.”

“This milestone shows what’s possible when we rethink how we prepare and support future educators,” Sauls said. “Angela’s success is a testament to the power of partnerships and a reminder that when we invest in aspiring teachers, our entire community benefits.”

For more information about the K–12 educator apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship programs, visit www.waynecc.edu or contact Sauls at kjsauls@waynecc.edu.