College of Education receives $900K GAINS grant to expand paid teacher apprenticeships

Rowan University’s College of Education has received a $900,365 grant from the New Jersey Department of Labor’s Growing Apprenticeships in Nontraditional Sectors (GAINS) initiative to expand paid teacher apprenticeship opportunities throughout South Jersey. This award marks the College’s first grant from the Department of Labor and strengthens its ongoing efforts to address critical educator workforce needs across the region.

Led by principal investigator Cori Brown, Ph.D., with co-principal investigators Drs. Joanne Connor, Gaëtane Jean-Marie and Stacey Leftwich, the initiative will partner with local school districts to create 76 earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship pathways. These pathways will allow aspiring educators to build hands-on classroom experience while completing state certification requirements.

The fully funded model provides approximately $12,000 in support for each apprentice, helping to eliminate financial barriers, expand accessible routes into teaching, and bolster district–university partnerships aimed at tackling teacher shortages. Apprentices will receive structured mentoring, clinical preparation and academic support, while partner districts benefit from a reliable pipeline of well-prepared educators committed to serving their communities.

Said Dean Jean-Marie, “through this collaborative effort, the College of Education continues to strengthen the regional educator workforce, deepen local partnerships, and support the long-term success of South Jersey schools and students.”