Isle of Wight County Schools (IWCS) is proud to announce its participation in the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) Grow Your Own-Registered Apprenticeship Program, supported through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Competitive State Apprenticeship Expansion Subgrant.
In July 2023, VDOE was awarded $1.78 million to support the launch of Grow Your Own apprenticeship programs across Virginia. That funding has since expanded with an additional $6 million, enabling school divisions to partner with universities and develop high-quality, accessible pathways to teacher licensure. These programs allow paraprofessionals to earn their teaching degrees while working in schools.
Through this initiative, IWCS is partnering with Old Dominion University (ODU) to support five current Instructional Aides who already hold associate degrees. These dedicated staff members will begin an accelerated bachelor’s degree program in education—at no cost to them—beginning May 2025. Once they complete their degrees, each apprentice will commit to teaching in IWCS classrooms for a minimum of three years.
The grant also provides funding for mentor teachers in the division who will support and guide these apprentices throughout their journey.
IWCS is proud to introduce the first cohort of apprentices:
- Riley Holding – Carrollton Elementary – Special Education major
- Katelyne Jones – Hardy Elementary – Elementary Education major
- Claudia Shelor – Smithfield Middle School – Special Education major
- Heather Jordan – Windsor Elementary – Elementary Education major
- Lexys Brinkley – Windsor Elementary – Elementary Education major
In addition to this exciting development, IWCS is currently working on a “prequel” to the Grow Your Own initiative. The division is developing a program that will provide funding for high school juniors and seniors enrolled in the Early Childhood Education Career and Technical Education (CTE) program to become instructional assistants upon graduation. This creates a seamless, supportive pipeline from high school to teacher licensure—starting students on the path to becoming educators right from their own community.
“This program is a win-win for our schools and our community,” said IWCS Superintendent Dr. Theo Cramer. “We are investing in people who are already passionate about education, already committed to our students, and now have a path to becoming fully licensed teachers without incurring student debt. It’s a smart and sustainable way to grow our teaching workforce from within.”