College & Career Signing Day for Teacher Apprentices

The district recently held a signing ceremony honoring three juniors who each signed Letters of Intent to serve as Teacher Apprentices in Washington Community Schools. 

This has been a collaborative effort between Washington High School, Regional Opportunity Initiatives, and Vincennes University. Jorgia Fishel, Addyson Cummins, and Breah Eskew will each serve as paid Teacher Apprentices for the rest of their high school careers. Apprentices will gain classroom and teaching experience and mentorship from our qualified staff. Apprentices will also participate in professional development and work toward industry certifications.

Successful completion of VU's Teacher Apprentice Two-Year Certificate while still in high school will allow them to earn 18 dual credits and graduate from VU with their bachelor’s degree in education sooner. This represents the first Teacher Apprentice signing in the 11-county region with ROI's Upskill Program.

“I am excited about the start of the Upskill Education Apprenticeship because this is such a great opportunity for schools to retain the talent they need so they have qualified teachers going forward, “ said Renae Christianson, Student Success Manager at ROI. “It is also a great way for our students to experience what it is like to be in a classroom as a teacher and to make the pathway to a degree in education much easier.”

“I am really excited about this opportunity. I already enjoy getting in the classroom and learning different techniques for different children and how I can adapt my teaching to help them and benefit them throughout their education,” said WHS junior Breah Eskew.

Ann Herman, Chair of Education at Vincennes University, is so excited to be a part of this program. “There is a huge teacher shortage, and I think this is a way to alleviate this problem and gives us a chance to have students go back to their hometown and teach in the schools that they grew up in. So we are very excited and happy about this.”