Mar 10, 2025 | Featured , Lawrence Campus

Columbia State, Lawrence County Schools Announce Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program for Aspiring Educators

Photo of Columbia State and Lawrence County School representatives
Pictured standing (left to right): Megan Harris, Columbia State Lawrence Campus director; Dr. Denise Carr, Columbia State vice president for Academic Affairs; Dr. Charlene Russell, the University of Tennessee System Middle Tennessee regional manager; Kirstin Senske, Columbia State program director and associate professor of education; Robin Thompson, Lawrence County Schools human resources director; Dr. Barry Gidcomb, Columbia State dean of the Humanities and Social Sciences Division and professor of history; and Cissy Holt, Columbia State vice president of Student Affairs. Pictured sitting (left to right): Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president and Michael Adkins, director of schools for Lawrence County.

Columbia State Community College and Lawrence County Schools recently signed an articulation agreement to establish a pre-apprenticeship program that will help foster the next generation of teachers.

The state-certified program was designed for students enrolled in the Associate of Science in Teaching program at Columbia State to streamline a path to transition into education and prepare them for careers as teachers.

 The program offers hands-on learning in classrooms, a direct gateway to the Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program and a path for students out of high school or the workforce to earn a teaching license. Those working in the program also earn a salary.

“We need men and women joining the noble profession of education,” said Michael Adkins, director of schools for Lawrence County. “Partnering with Columbia State Community College will attract more to the profession who have received a quality education and preparation program. We need more people to answer the call to education now more than any other time in history.”

Student requirements for the program include a recommended 21 ACT score or passing scores on the Praxis CORE exam and a 2.75 GPA. This is also an opportunity for those already working in schools to become a certified teacher.

The benefits of the program are wide-reaching. Students and those in the workforce will not only gain real experience toward their teaching goals at an affordable price, but it also helps address Tennessee's teacher shortage by preparing more qualified teaching candidates.

“We all know that we've got a shortage of teachers out there, so it is even more important the work that you’re doing to make that shortage go away, to provide opportunities for our students as well,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. “We want to see students grow and achieve and become, and we want to do it in ways that also work with their lives. We know that life today has got a lot of different angles that hit you. A lot of different issues that are there and finding new ways to work with students that mesh with their life and provide different opportunities, but they still can succeed and get the goal that they want, I think is extremely important.”

To view more photos from the event, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/columbiastatecc/albums/72177720323451518/.

Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president and Michael Adkins, director of schools for Lawrence County sign the articulation agreement for the pre-apprenticeship training program for aspiring educators.
Pictured (left to right): Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president and Michael Adkins, director of schools for Lawrence County sign the articulation agreement for the pre-apprenticeship training program for aspiring educators.

 

Pictured (left to right): Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president and Michael Adkins, director of schools for Lawrence County.

Pictured (left to right): Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president, and Michael Adkins, director of schools for Lawrence County.

 

Columbia State and Lawrence County School representatives

Pictured standing (left to right): Megan Harris, Columbia State Lawrence Campus director; Dr. Denise Carr, Columbia State vice president for Academic Affairs; Dr. Charlene Russell, the University of Tennessee System Middle Tennessee regional manager; Kirstin Senske, Columbia State program director and associate professor of education; Robin Thompson, Lawrence County Schools human resources director; Dr. Barry Gidcomb, Columbia State dean of the Humanities and Social Sciences Division and professor of history; and Cissy Holt, Columbia State vice president of Student Affairs. Pictured sitting (left to right): Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president, and Michael Adkins, director of schools for Lawrence County.