Program Supervisors & Coaches

They would not hold a license with CDE other than their substitute teacher license. They would hold an Apprenticeship Completion Certificate from the USDOL program. At this time, if your apprentice teacher left your district, they would only be hireable in districts that are associated with a USDOL apprenticeship program in Colorado. Right now, those districts that accept this apprenticeship program are the 8 PPBOCES member districts and Manitou Springs School District. We are working with the CDE to increase the number of schools and districts accepting apprentice teachers. The reason this program works with CDE is that when you break it down, we are providing education for those individuals who are already in classrooms providing education for students either as a substitute teacher or a paraprofessional. We are teaching them the theories, laws, and strategies they need to know as the person responsible for those students. We are discussing with CDE using the Adjunct Teacher License when an apprentice completes the apprenticeship while the individual continues to work towards completing their BA.

In the districts where our teacher apprenticeships are being used, districts are setting up their salary schedules making columns for the apprentice teacher to the left of a CDE licensed teacher. 

The idea is that once an individual gains academic momentum in higher education, they will continue to pursue their BA and full CDE credentialed licensure. Districts are recommended to complete a salary schedule that monetizes continued acquisition of credits towards that goal. $34,000 is a base-level requirement within the TASCC apprenticeship. Schools and districts have the opportunity to pay more than this if they choose to. This amount works out to $26.50 per hour under the TASCC apprenticeship model. 

Working with Dr. Katie Anderson-Pence at UCCS she established a reduced rate for the courses that are included as a part of the apprenticeship through the Extended Studies Department. She has also outlined the routes that an apprentice teacher would take if they wanted to pursue their BA while in the apprenticeship program. These courses would be at the cost of the apprentice and do not have to be taken in this order, or at this rapid of a rate. This is just a mock-up of an elementary 3-year pathway and a secondary 2-year pathway. We require that all apprentices who have completed any level of college meet with Dr. Anderson-Pence before enrolling so that they can check to make sure that they would not be repeating a previously taken course or its equivalent.

Apprentices must have 2 years of proven experience in a general education or direct instruction setting. They must possess a high school diploma or equivalent, be over 18 and hold a Colorado Department of Education Substitute Teacher License.

When your school or district contracts with TASCC, you sign on through an Employer Agreement under the USDOL Approved Apprentice Sponsorship Agreement through TASCC LLC. TASCC then takes on the operational sponsorship, maintenance of all paperwork, and supervision requirements set forth in the approved apprenticeship program. 

Coaching for your apprentice/s includes a minimum of 15 hours of observation and 15 hours of coaching per year per apprentice. Coaches provide continued support in coursework and maintain records to show the fidelity of implementation. TASCC coaches are the instructors for the apprentices adding another layer of support for those teachers as they implement the practices and strategies learned through their coursework. All TSCC coaches are required to hold an MA or higher in education and have at least 5 years of successful classroom experience along with leadership skills.