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It may have been spring break time for North Branch schools, but the superintendent and school board chair were on active duty last week. The two testified in person, in St Paul in support of a measure being carried by Austin area Representative Patricia Mueller, HF 1538.  

The bill was being reviewed in the Education Finance Committee and North Branch came to provide whatever information House members needed to see the benefits in the legislation.  North Branch is in the midst of a two-year pilot teacher apprenticeship program  with nine enrolled in-training involving local staff and higher education institutions.  

Superintendent Paul said the apprentices are on track  to finish on schedule and earn teaching degrees.  The apprenticeship style program is a terrific benefit to the “cohort” because multiple districts are involved— affording a network of support and opportunities. They get to work alongside existing instructors for two years in the North Branch ground-breaking program and they find strength in the “shared commitment” among the districts involved.

Supt. Paul displayed a letter to the committee from 10 districts advocating to make this a state program.  

The idea in this legislative session is to get startup funding for providing 35 apprenticeship spots.

North Branch School Board Chair Tim Macmillan told the committee members that the apprenticeship opportunity “changes lives” and he invited any House committee members with questions to contact him in North Branch.

Rep. Mueller noted there are 45 states that have already implemented some form of teacher apprenticeship training program and this concept has been common practice in the skilled trades for years.

The measure was referred to the Workforce and Labor Committee.  The companion bill in the Senate is SF2123.

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