New Jersey City University (NJCU) and its Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education marked a significant achievement on Oct. 9, with the official recognition of its Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP) as a Certified Registered Apprentice Program under the United States Department of Labor (DOL).
This national recognition affirms NJCU’s pioneering approach to teacher preparation, which has been central to the university’s mission since its founding as a normal school nearly a century ago. The DOL certification acknowledges that the program meets rigorous national standards for apprenticeship training, ensuring a high-quality pathway into the teaching profession.
The “earn while you learn” model
The Teacher Apprentice Program is lauded for its “earn while they learn” model, which provides education majors with paid, progressive experiential learning throughout their entire college career. Students can begin working alongside experienced teachers as early as their freshman year, accumulating four full years of classroom experience.
Apprentices start by providing individual and small group instruction and gradually advance to whole classroom teaching, all while participating in a professional development series designed to foster a lifelong learning mindset.
“This national recognition validates what we’ve known for years—that NJCU is leading the way in reimagining teacher preparation,” NJCU President Andres Acebo said. “Our Teacher Apprentice Program doesn’t just prepare future educators; it transforms lives by giving students the opportunity to earn income while gaining invaluable classroom experience.”
Driving success and retention
The program, directed by Dr. Michelle Rosen and Dr. Mary McGriff, has tripled in size since 2016 and currently supports 71 apprentices working in partner schools.
Dr. Rosen noted the tangible benefits of the program for students: “We have seen the highest retention rate at NJCU, high GPA status, and more engagement in university classes amongst our apprentices.”
The program is a unique collaborative effort, currently partnered with 12 K-12 schools, including charter schools and public school districts like Union City Public Schools.
“It is a privilege to partner with local schools in helping us prepare skilled, caring educators,” Dean McGriff said. “As our apprentices learn from outstanding mentor teachers, they are also providing vital learning support to kindergarten to 12th grade students in these schools. It is an ideal combination.”
