Idaho educators will soon have a new pathway to becoming principals. But it’s not an easier one.
Under a new principal apprenticeship program, candidates would have to meet the same requirements as their traditional counterparts. The main differences: Apprentices would complete significantly more on-the-ground training and have opportunities to apply for federal grants.
The State Board of Education approved the new principal apprenticeship program at a regular meeting last month. The new pathway comes on the heels of similar apprenticeships for K-12 teachers and K-12 special education teachers.
State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield has been calling attention to declining interest in school leadership positions amid deterrents like low pay, growing responsibilities and “restrictive requirements.”
In an October column, she said an administrator apprenticeship program could be one possible solution to school leader shortages.
But at the Dec. 18 meeting, Critchfield questioned why the apprenticeship was so similar to the traditional pathway.
“I didn’t see any differences between what we’re asking our administrators to do (now) versus this,” she said. “I thought there was going to be a difference … I mean isn’t that the idea behind the apprenticeship, that it’s a different pathway to the same position?”
Critchfield clarified to trustees that she supported the program but said it will only benefit some people.
“For the regular person that wants to get into (administration), I will absolutely not recommend them to do this, because it is more on top of what we’re already requiring,” Critchfield told State Board trustees at a Dec. 18 meeting. “That will make no sense for some people, but for some people” it would be a good fit.
“I’m going to vote for it but I want to make sure that we all don’t go out and celebrate an alternate route for administrators, which it is — but it’s not,” Critchfield continued.
The first principal apprenticeships will likely begin this fall, according to Katie Shoup, the manager of the State Board’s educator effectiveness program.
How the program would work
Traditionally, a teacher who wants to become a principal would enroll in a graduate program. As part of their coursework, they would also complete an internship during which they would get real-world experience by helping with principal duties at a school. Those duties and classes would primarily be completed outside of work hours.
Under the apprenticeship program, a candidate would take on a role at a school that would allow them to get on-the-ground experience during normal work hours.
And there are other benefits to the apprenticeship program, according to Shoup.
Here’s how the program would work:
Two years of on-the-ground experience: Apprentices would get more real-life experience than their traditional-route peers, Shoup said. They’d do principal-like duties as a mentee under a certified principal for two years, rather than a semester. Shoup hopes this will positively impact principal retention since they’d be more prepared for the realities of the job.
Instructional coaching while learning principal ropes: Ideally, the apprentice would be working as an instructional coach or mentor to other teachers while studying and learning to become a principal during those two years. That way, they’d get paid for their on-the-ground training.
Access to federal and state dollars: Principal apprentices would qualify to apply for federal grants that they could put toward tuition costs. Eligible candidates could also apply to the Idaho Department of Labor for supportive funds they could put toward job-related costs such as gasoline or clothing. These dollars could make “principalship more accessible in Idaho,” Shoup said.
Veterans: Veterans in this program could get their GI Bill funding fast-tracked.
Completing the apprenticeship would take the same amount of time that a traditional route would take, Shoup said.
She noted that a principal apprentice would have to be fully certified before serving as the principal of record.
