Last week, we were able to visit with some of our Teacher Apprenticeship students from Bullitt East High School as they collaborated in classrooms at Old Mill Elementary School. This program is a key component of our district’s Teaching and Learning Pathway, designed to nurture students who are passionate about education. By pairing aspiring teachers with experienced mentors in our schools, this program provides real-world classroom experience while fostering meaningful relationships between mentors and students.
At Old Mill Elementary, our Bullitt East students are paired with outstanding educators. Fourth-grade Teacher Apprentices Lily Merkle and Chloe Whitaker worked with Mary Bleemel and Christie Watson, respectively, gaining hands-on experience in teaching, classroom management, and building student relationships. Additionally, BEHS students Grace Conley and Kennedy Scott partnered with second-grade teachers Megan Welch and Kendall Marinesi as part of their clinical collaborative experience, further deepening their understanding of what it means to be an educator.
What’s truly exciting about this program is that it not only equips students with the skills to succeed in the classroom but also keeps them connected to our local community. Many graduates of our Teaching and Learning Pathway Programs remain in Bullitt County to begin their careers, making a direct impact where they grew up. Julia Kromenacker, an alumnus from the program’s first year at Bullitt East, is a shining example of this. Now a second-grade teacher at Old Mill Elementary, Julia’s journey reflects how this program prepares future educators and encourages them to give back to their local community.
According to Leo Craven, Teaching and Learning Pathway teacher at Bullitt East High School, “This program allows students to gain valuable, real-world experience early on in their education journey. It’s incredibly rewarding to see students like Julia return to Bullitt County and make a difference in the same classrooms where they first started learning how to teach.”
Teacher Apprenticeship programs are currently offered at all three high schools in our district—Bullitt East, North Bullitt, and Bullitt Central—giving students across Bullitt County the opportunity to explore careers in education. By providing hands-on experiences and mentorship at all levels, these programs allow students at each school to develop the competencies and skills they need to become the educators of tomorrow.
Our Teacher Apprenticeship program embodies several of our district’s Core Values, such as Students Matter Most and Shared Accountability. The program also emphasizes the importance of mentorship and collaboration, key components of our Graduate Profile, which includes competencies like Effective Communicator and Productive Collaborator. By building relationships, learning through practice, and staying connected to their roots, these aspiring educators are growing into the leaders and innovators who will shape the future of our schools.
We are proud of our Teacher Apprenticeship students across the district and the impact they are already making. Their commitment to learning and giving back exemplifies the spirit of BCPS and our motto of Moving Forward.
Visit this link to check out our apprentices in action!