How Talent Together Works With Districts to Place Teachers in Classrooms
Grow Your Own
In 2022, seven Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) joined together to create a collective response to Michigan’s teacher shortage. ISD leaders partnered with Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative to create Talent Together. Today, Talent Together is a consortium of all 56 Michigan ISDs and supports over 1,200 active Teacher Candidates across 400 districts, with a new cohort joining this spring. In just a few short years, Talent Together has grown into the Midwest’s largest Grow Your Own program.
Talent Together Management Team
Grow Your Own (GYO) initiatives identify talented individuals who could be excellent teachers and are already working in or connected to a specific community. Individuals, such as paraprofessionals, support staff, long-term substitutes, or residents interested in teaching, are then supported through coursework and coaching, preparing them to earn certification and teach in their local schools.
Research from Michigan State University’s Education Policy Innovation Collaborative (Grow Your Own Primer), GYO programs strengthen local teacher workforces when districts recruit from their communities, and preparation programs align coursework, clinical experiences, and support so candidates succeed (3–4). Talent Together builds on this model, focusing on the needs of districts, teachers, and students.
“As a small, rural district, Talent Together has helped provide education and support to local residents who are interested in supporting and working for their community school district. This has helped us hire and retain residents who are involved and engaged not only in the school but in the community.”
Jennifer Ellis, Superintendent at Morenci Area Schools
Journey of a Talent Together Teacher Candidate
Once accepted, a Teacher Candidate enrolls in a post-secondary institution and is supported by a dedicated Talent Together Success Navigator. Teacher Candidates begin by completing required coursework while continuing to work, building the knowledge and skills needed to enter the classroom.
In their final year of coursework, most Teacher Candidates complete a Department of Labor–approved Registered Apprenticeship Program, which replaces traditional student teaching. During the apprenticeship year, Teacher Candidares work in a classroom alongside a Mentor Teacher, gaining hands-on experience while learning and observing. Talent Together Educator Development Specialists provide coaching and support to strengthen instruction and the mentor–mentee relationship.
After completing the program and earning their certification, Teacher Candidates commit to teaching in a Michigan school for five years for an initial certification or three years for an add-on endorsement.
The Registered Apprenticeship: Creating Staff Retention and Greater Student Supports
During the Registered Apprenticeship Program, Teacher Candidates spend a full school year in a classroom with a Mentor Teacher while earning 80% of a first-year teacher’s salary. This model provides apprentices with hands-on teaching experiences, including working with small groups, leading lessons, and offering one-on-one attention to students, while providing districts with immediate classroom support. Mentor Teachers gain leadership and coaching development experiences while preparing the Apprentice for a classroom of their own, and reducing burnout when they step into their full-time position.
“Hosting Talent Together Teacher Candidates has been a tremendous asset to our daily operations. The program offers our veteran teachers invaluable mentoring experiences, strengthening their own instructional leadership. The presence of these future educators means our classrooms have additional caring, dedicated future teachers providing support to our students every day.”
Allison Jordan, Superintendent at Merrill Community Schools
Success Stories
To date, Talent Together has supported over 300 Apprentice Teacher Candidates, each one gaining invaluable experience and strengthening their community. Here’s a closer look at the journeys of a few of these future educators:
Nine-year school support staff to future certified teacher
Portage Public Schools is home to six Talent Together Teacher Candidates and three program alumni. Among those is Agatha Cottrell, who has worked at Portage Public Schools for the past nine years. She initially joined the Special Education team and later moved into a reading/math paraprofessional role. Agatha wanted to teach more but felt limited without the necessary schooling and certifications.
“I thought this was too good to be true, not having to leave my current job or pay for school. To have a classroom of my own within the district I love! It’s been amazing to complete my apprentice year within the same building where I have worked for so long.”
Agatha’s apprentice year has given her hands-on experience and confirmed she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.
“My apprentice journey has solidified my desire to teach. Being in one room from the first day is something I can’t really explain. Knowing that my mentor is modeling exactly what I will do next year, and beyond, is knowledge not everyone has.”
Chad Mason at West Bloomfield School District
Chad Mason is currently completing his apprenticeship year in a High School Emotional Impairment (EI) Special Education classroom in West Bloomfield School District. Chad is thriving in a highly specialized setting, bringing warmth, consistency, and strong relationship-building to a classroom that requires clear structure and emotional support.
During a recent visit, Southeast Region Educator Development Specialist Alisha Goins was struck by the positive classroom culture he and his mentor, Terry Battle, have created. In the first 10 minutes of instruction, he maintained a 9:0 ratio of positive to corrective interactions, and students responded promptly to directions. He provided 14 opportunities for students to respond, and there were no disruptions, contributing to strong engagement.
The classroom felt calm, structured, and student-centered, reflecting his growing skill and dedication.
LaVita Thopson at Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences
LaVita Thopson is completing her apprenticeship at Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences (DAAS). She discovered her passion for teaching while working as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional, and now, as she pursues her Special Education certification, she is seeing that passion become a reality.
“The support from Talent Together and DAAS has been amazing. They are truly here for us, and everyone is making sure I am understanding and progressing as an educator. I am excited about all that has been and is to come.”
LaVita is one of three Apprentice Teachers at DAAS this year, contributing to a total of 13 Teacher Candidates across the school, helping strengthen classroom support and student learning.
How Districts Benefit
Apprentices play a critical role in closing educator shortages statewide by providing districts with a pipeline of excellent local future teachers. By engaging staff who are already invested in the success of local school communities, Talent Together helps districts empower their non-teaching staff, who know and work with students and are already rooted in their communities. This growing group of apprentices represents not just future teachers, but a long-term, sustainable solution to Michigan’s educator shortage.
“We partnered with Talent Together because they were built specifically to help districts like us who have quality staff working in the district, looking for an alternative pathway to teaching certification. There is not a single reason for a district not to participate in the Talent Together program. It helped us take some of our most caring folks interested in teaching and put them into the classrooms with our most dedicated teachers as mentors.”
Jay Kulbertis, Superintendent at Gladstone Community Schools
Apply Now or Share with a Future Michigan Educator
From supporting Teacher Candidates through every step of their journey to partnering with districts to strengthen recruitment and retention, Talent Together remains committed to growing and sustaining Michigan’s educator workforce. Applications for the next cohort are open through January 7th. Apply today or share our information with a future Michigan educator!
Burns, J., & Education Policy Innovation Collaborative. (2025, July). Grow Your Own Teacher Initiatives in Michigan at-a-glance: A research primer. Education Policy Innovation Collaborative. https://epicedpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GYO‑Primer_July2025.pdf