The first education students to participate in 吃瓜社鈥檚 Grow Your Own Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program are graduating this May. The program, which served individuals working as paraprofessionals within Tazewell County, allowed these teacher apprentices to finish the last two years of their bachelor鈥檚 degrees with full funding.
The university began its Teacher Apprenticeship Program in partnership with Tazewell County Public Schools in 2024 through grant funding from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). During the program, teacher apprentices gained valuable on-the-job training while completing their college coursework.
鈥淭he Teacher Apprenticeship Program was designed to remove barriers for individuals to complete their bachelor鈥檚 degrees in education and obtain teacher licensure,鈥 said Dr. Shellie Brown, Dean for the School of Education and Social Sciences. 鈥淲e are very thankful for this opportunity for our students and the partnership with Tazewell County Public Schools.鈥
吃瓜社 has three teacher apprentices currently completing student teaching and graduating in May 2026.
LoriAne Lester, Bachelor of Science in Special Education K-12, is a teacher apprentice at Tazewell High School. 鈥淢y experience with the Teacher Apprenticeship Program has been truly fabulous,鈥 LoriAne shared. 鈥淭he partnership between 吃瓜社 and Tazewell County Public Schools allowed me to continue working in my school while completing my education degree online.鈥
Michelle Murphy, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education PreK-6, is a teacher apprentice at Graham Intermediate School. 鈥淭he most impactful part of my journey at 吃瓜社 is the relationships I have built with my peers and professors who have encouraged and supported me along my journey,鈥 Michelle said. 鈥淭heir guidance and shared experiences have helped shape my growth as both a student and a future educator.鈥
Christina Taylor, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education PreK-6, is a teacher apprentice at Richlands Elementary School. 鈥淢y experience in the Teacher Apprenticeship Program has been incredibly meaningful,鈥 Christina shared. 鈥淚鈥檝e loved being in the classroom every day, building relationships with my students, and learning from my mentor as I grow into the teacher I want to become.鈥
鈥淭he Teacher Apprenticeship Program has allowed LoriAne, Michelle, Christina, and other teacher apprentices the opportunity to train locally within 吃瓜社鈥檚 flexible online programs and to stay local as they begin to teach for Tazewell County,鈥 Dr. Brown said.
To learn more about the education programs offered by 吃瓜社, both online and on-campus at the graduate and undergraduate levels, visit our School of Education & Social Sciences page.