SPC Teacher Apprenticeship Program Graduates First Cohort

As a longstanding pillar in the region’s education community, St. Petersburg College continues to strengthen the pipeline of Pinellas County educators through innovative programs such as the Grow Your Own (GYO) Teacher Apprenticeship Program. Now entering its third year, the program celebrated a major milestone with the graduation of its first cohort this month.

Seventeen apprentices completed the program, including Kimberly Adams, Morgan Castellucio, Sherri Correll, Alexandra Coruhlu, Rashad Harrell, Shareka Jeffery, Sonya Kelso, Yajaira Martinez, Jasmine Mims, Erica Posno, Allison Redd, Rhonda Ritter, Pamela Rogers, Kalaya Smith, Bobbi Stotts, Leah Street and Tue Tran.

“This apprenticeship program has meant everything to me and more,” said Rashad Harrell, an SPC apprenticeship graduate (see inset photo). “It helped me learn some things about myself, like the importance of preparation. I know, even more now, the value of hard work and commitment. The real-world experiences have helped me to be ready for the classroom.”

In partnership with Pinellas County Schools (PCS), the program blends paid, on-the-job classroom experience with rigorous college coursework, allowing participants to “earn while they learn” as they work toward a bachelor’s degree and full Florida teacher certification. Mentor teachers guide apprentices throughout the process, providing hands-on support from both district and College staff in real classroom environments.

“As educators, we know the best preparation happens through experience,” said Heather Duncan, Dean of the College of Education at SPC. “This program allows future teachers to build confidence and develop meaningful classroom skills while being supported by mentors and college faculty every step of the way. It’s creating a strong pipeline of passionate, prepared educators for our community.”

One on one support

The program also includes a data-driven Impact Project that measures classroom effectiveness and student learning growth to ensure apprentices not only complete the program but also enter the profession fully prepared.

“It was a rigorous program, I’m just so happy I made it through,” said Pamela Rogers, who currently works as a Physical Education Assistant at Lakeview Fundamental and graduated with a bachelor’s in education. Rogers, who also works a second job with the city of St. Petersburg, says that both the financial support and the constant academic support from her mentor and faculty helped her finally finish what she started years ago. “They were always just a phone call away,” she said. Without the apprenticeship program, “it would have been a slower road to getting here.”

Rogers has already passed her state certification exam and anticipates transitioning to a full-time teaching position in the fall.

Harrell agreed that the mentorship and support he received throughout the program played a major role in his success.

“My mentor was great,” he said. “Perhaps the thing I will remember most is my field supervisor sending an email to the [PCS] superintendent, saying he would want me to be his child’s teacher. I would absolutely recommend this program for anyone looking to further their career in education.”

Since its launch in fall 2024, enrollment has continued to grow, with new cohorts planned in high-need areas such as elementary education and exceptional student education.

Removing Financial Barriers

Funding from the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE)’s Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant (PCOG) has played a critical role in sustaining the SPC’s Grow Your Own program by covering key costs such as instruction, supervision, materials and exam preparation. In addition, Florida statute exempts registered apprentices from tuition and fees, removing financial barriers and making the pathway more accessible to aspiring educators.

The FLDOE awarded over $1.6 million through the PCOG program in the 2024-2025 fiscal year to support teacher apprenticeship programs statewide. As Florida continues to invest in apprenticeship-based pathways, SPC’s program stands as a model for how colleges can expand access, reduce barriers and prepare the next generation of educators to make an immediate impact.

Aligned with SPC’s strategic focus on strengthening the community and addressing workforce gaps, the apprenticeship model is designed to create sustainable pathways into teaching. By embedding preparation directly in the classroom and supporting students from recruitment through completion, SPC is helping build a stronger, more resilient educator workforce across Pinellas County and the state.