COLUMBIA, Tenn. — Columbia State Community College hosted a signing event with Maury County Public Schools that establishes a pre-apprenticeship program designed to foster the next generation of local teachers.

This state-certified program was designed to streamline a path to transition current educational and teacher assistants into becoming certified teachers through the partnership of Columbia State and the Maury County Public Schools District. The partnership offers students the ability to earn an associate degree at Columbia State, continue to a four-year school to further their education, and ultimately, receive in-classroom experience and employment opportunities at Maury County Public Schools.

“This is more than a signing—it’s the beginning of a long-term vision to nurture talented teachers, support students and ensure every child in Maury County learns from someone who believes in their potential,” said Kirstin Senske, Columbia State program director and associate professor of education.

Columbia State’s pre-apprenticeship education program partnerships, first with Lawrence County Schools and now with Maury County Public Schools, is the first of its kind in Tennessee.

“We are, as we speak, investing in our future, in our children and in our community,” said Lisa Ventura, Maury County Public Schools superintendent. “This agreement will establish a program that will foster the next generation of teachers. This partnership will be a model for innovation in teacher preparation, in our community and in our state. We're not only investing individually, but also in the long-term strength of the educational system at large.”

The benefits of the program are wide-ranging. Students will not only gain real experience toward their teaching goals at an affordable price, but their future employment opportunities will also help alleviate Tennessee's teacher shortage.

“We are always looking to prepare qualified teaching candidates,” Ventura said. “Maury County Public Schools will benefit from a pipeline of qualified, trained educators who are familiar with the Maury County Public Schools System­—the culture and our values—and what our community values. We will be better positioned to retain great teachers, reduce our vacancy gaps and improve student outcomes. We're excited to see this program grow, thrive and one day return our students to our schools as fully licensed, highly qualified and highly impactful teachers.”

With this program now in place, the need for teachers in Maury County and Middle Tennessee will be especially helped by the supply of freshly graduated educators entering the workforce.

“I don't know how many partnerships exist in this world where both sides see the same benefits, they see similar benefits and the return on the investment goes both ways,” said Keith Stacey, Maury County Public Schools assistant superintendent of instruction. “Oftentimes, partnerships lean more towards one side than they do the other. One side may benefit, maybe slightly more than the other. However, I truly think in this partnership, we will see a true flow between the two programs.”

“Our unity with Maury County Public Schools is ingrained with who we are as a community, as a college and how we work together for the citizens of this area to improve educational opportunities,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president.

Student requirements for the program include a recommended 21 ACT score or passing scores on the Praxis CORE exam and a 2.75 GPA.

Some of the hands-on training students can experience while in the program include: 

• Early childhood centers: Gaining experience with younger children in preschool and early childhood education centers.
• Special education settings: Working with students who have special needs, learning how to adapt instruction and provide appropriate support.
• Educational support roles: Exploring roles such as instructional coordinators, school counselors, and educational technology specialists through short-term observations.
• K-12 education settings: Gaining experience with school-age children in both public and private school settings.

The program also offers several options for career preparedness and exploration within the education field, including:

• Guest speakers and panels: Bringing in experienced educators, administrators and education specialists to discuss their career paths and daily responsibilities.
• Career fairs and networking events: Hosting events where students can meet potential employers, learn about different education careers and explore job opportunities.
• Workshops and seminars: Offering sessions on resume writing, interview skills and job search strategies tailored to the education field.

All program offerings are geared towards expanding possibilities for careers in education that are simultaneously self-enriching and community-reinforcing.  

“We know that education builds all communities, and a community that does not have a strong educational system or a strong educational foundation does not progress,” Smith said. “They're not as economically viable as communities that are educationally grounded. And through this partnership, we are building opportunities for individuals to increase their income by increasing their education.”

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