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The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ School of Education has been awarded three new grants by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development to support apprentice educators in Kodiak, update apprenticeship coursework and launch a leadership initiative in partnership with the University of Alaska Southeast.

The three grants from Alaska DEED will help strengthen existing programs and create new opportunities for Alaska’s future teachers:

• $8,000 in direct funding to apprentice educators in Kodiak, covering tuition and fees to support aspiring teachers where they live and work.
• $25,000 to revise upper-division coursework and enhance the existing educator apprenticeship program.
• $100,000 joint grant with University of Alaska Southeast to design and develop a leadership pathway, supporting the professional growth of educators aspiring to leadership roles in schools and districts.

ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½'s apprenticeship for educators program is a work-based learning model that allows individuals to earn while they learn, gaining necessary experience while progressing toward teacher certification. The program helps embed future teachers in their own communities — ensuring teacher preparation is responsive to regional needs while they train within their own home districts. Only since 2022 has the United States Department of Labor accepted registered apprenticeships as a pathway to teacher certification. This fall, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ welcomed its first cohort of apprentice teachers from around the state.

“In a highly applied profession like education, our students need access to practical in-classroom skills to be effective. As ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ educates the next generation of Alaska teachers, we're also learning from them. These early cohorts' experiences inform how the program continues to develop. It's a very mutually rewarding experience," said Dr. Tonia Dousay, dean of the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ School of Education.

In addition to these advancements, Dean Dousay is accepting a national award on behalf of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ for the Culturally Responsive Apprenticeship Pathway for Early Childhood Education, earning the 2025 Colleagues’ Choice Innovation Award from the Western Academic Leadership Forum. This honor underscores ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½â€™s role in championing accessible and culturally relevant education solutions that directly benefit Alaska’s schools and students.

Through these initiatives, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ reaffirms its leadership in teacher preparation and workforce development, ensuring Alaska’s schools are staffed with highly qualified educators who are trained at home to serve and strengthen their communities.