Russell County High School Apprenticeship Program for Future LWC Students Makes Way for Early College Graduation

wep grant Six Russell County High School students will get a head start on their teaching careers because of an apprenticeship opportunity that will fast-track their college education.

Anna Gosser, Emma Grider, Amy McGowan, Saturn Taryn Walsh, Leah White and Emma Wilson -- juniors and seniors from Russell County High School -- attended a signing ceremony at Lindsey Wilson College on Friday to become a part of an apprenticeship program that will pay high school students to work under a mentor teacher while taking dual credit courses at LWC. The agreement, funded by the Wilderness Education Project, allows students to use their apprenticeship hours toward their student teaching hours – fulfilling the requirement necessary for college graduation.

“The students will begin taking dual credit education courses in the teaching pathway through RCHS and Lindsey Wilson,” said LWC Director of Education Jennifer Antoniotti-Neal. “After they graduate, they will enroll in LWC’s education program. Because the required student teaching hours will have already been completed in the apprenticeship program, students who sign up for this program will graduate from college early.”

RCHS is one of only six schools in the state of Kentucky to receive the grant from the Wilderness Education Project and LWC is the first private school to offer apprenticeship opportunities as credit toward a degree.

“I'm excited! I’ve wanted to be a teacher all my life”, says Emma Grider who is set to attend LWC in the fall. “I think going to Lindsey Wilson and learning under the RCHS mentors will offer the support I need to achieve my goals to become a teacher.”

wep signing The RCHS students will work with career support specialist Mick Slone and teaching pathway sponsor Devin Godby who serve as mentors in the program.

“This partnership is a natural fit for LWC and RCHS,” said Slone. “Dr. Jennifer Neal is excellent to work with and is encouraged about the opportunities this will provide her students. Our students will leave high school having mastered the competencies required to successfully manage a classroom. It’s a win, win for Russell County and Lindsey Wilson College.”

The four-year grant from the Wilderness Education Project allows current RCHS education students to receive a competitive wage, and gain valuable on-the-job training as they complete their high school education. WEP is a non-profit that works to find active solutions, programs, resources, and opportunities for K-12 schools.

Pictured, top: Russell County High School seniors Emma Grider, left, and Amy McGowan, right, commit to RCHS’s apprenticeship program with Lindsey Wilson College. RCHS is one of six schools in Kentucky to receive the Wilderness Education Project grant and LWC is the first private school in the state to participate in the apprenticeship program. Back row, from left: RCHS career support specialist Mick Slone, LWC Director of Education Jennifer Antoniotti-Neal, LWC Vice President for Academic Affairs Ray Lutgring, RCHS teaching pathway sponsor Devin Godby. Front row, from left: RCHS seniors Emma Grider and Amy McGowan.

Pictured, middle: Four Russell County High School juniors sign their commitment to RCHS’s apprenticeship program with Lindsey Wilson College. The students will work under a mentor teacher while simultaneously taking dual credit courses with LWC’s education program, complete student teaching hours and fast-track their way to earning a degree. From left: Leah White, Emma Wilson, Anna Gosser, Saturn Taryn Walsh.