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School & Districts

Talent Together’s District Commitment Agreement outlines the commitments of partnering districts and signifies the partner district’s intent to collaborate closely with Talent Together’s program staff to support participating Teacher Candidates and prepare them to advance educational outcomes for Michigan’s students

Benefits for Districts

By electing to sponsor a teacher candidate in Talent Together, participating districts gains access to a range of benefits, including:

  • Partnering with Talent Together to achieve six key goals, including:
    • Improve educational outcomes for Michigan students served by program participants
      through the development of essential teacher skills and mindsets and differential
      retention of highly-qualified and well-prepared teaching candidates.
    • Reduce barriers to entry and persistence in the teaching field by creating flexible and
      accessible pathways for aspiring teachers.
    • Significantly reduce vacancies in the certification areas identified as highest-need,
      including special education and early childhood settings.
    • Increase the number of BIPOC teachers so that students can see themselves in their
      teachers and have opportunities to learn from a more diverse teacher workforce.
      ○ Increase retention of novice and experienced teachers through the development of
      professional learning experiences and career advancement opportunities.
      ○ Improve the economic mobility of candidates in support staff roles by providing paid,
      job-embedded opportunities to advance their careers.
    • Direct access to Talent Together consortium staff for additional teacher leadership capacity and exposure to innovative teaching methodologies

 

 

Participating Expectations and Requirements

Participation in Talent Together does not bind a district to future employment of a teacher candidate, but districts must commit to supporting the training and development of their teacher candidates. Further, districts should not recommend individuals for the program if they have any reason to
believe that they would not ultimately hire the person into a full time teacher of record position. Districts must ensure compliance with enrollment procedures, assessment requirements, and employment standards outlined by Talent Together.

In addition to the guidelines provided above, Districts agree to:

  • Appoint a district leader to serve as the primary liaison with Talent Together
  • Hire and support Apprentice Teachers during their apprenticeship year (Note: Talent
    Together will reimburse the district for the cost associated with the salary and benefits for Apprentice Teachers. A formal financial agreement will be secured between the district and Talent Together for candidates during the Registered Apprenticeship year).
  • Collaborate with Talent Together to identify and support Mentor Teachers (Note: Talent Together will compensate identified and selected Mentor Teachers directly).
  • Notify Talent Together of any change in candidate employment or any concerns related to
    performance or attendance that may have an impact on the candidate’s successful completion
    of the Talent Together program
  • Provide necessary data and support to inform program development and meet regulatory
    requirements
  • Offer guidance and resources to teacher candidates and facilitate their participation in
    program activities
  • Allocate release time for professional development and required coursework completion
    where feasible
  • Coordinate supports with Post-Secondary Institution faculty and Talent Together team

 

Apprenticeship Program

The Talent Together Program provides a unique year-long apprenticeship program to all participants
working towards an initial teaching certificate. The Registered Apprentice Program (RAP) provides
the Teacher Candidate with a full school year of on the job training to ensure program participants
are well prepared to enter the teaching profession. Teacher Candidates agree to the following
apprenticeship features.

  • The Registered Apprentice Program (RAP) will take place simultaneously during the last full
    year of coursework.
  • Any student teaching/internship requirement traditionally included in a post-secondary
    institution’s educator preparation program will be fulfilled by the Talent Together RAP.
  • During the apprenticeship year, teacher candidates will be referred to as Apprentice Teachers.
  • The Apprentice Teacher will be compensated by their partner district during their apprenticeship. Compensation includes full benefits and 80% of a 1st year teacher’s salary as
    determined by their assigned partner district’s pay scale and teacher agreement.
  • Each Apprentice Teacher will be assigned a Mentor Teacher to work side-by-side with
    throughout the apprenticeship school year. The Mentor Teacher will:
    • share their classroom with their assigned Apprentice Teacher,
    • be hired by Talent Together following the Talent Together Mentor Teacher hiring
      process, and
  • The Apprentice Teacher will start their RAP on the first teacher work day at their partner district and work through the last teacher work day indicated on the partner district’s calendar.
  • The Apprentice Teacher will not serve as a substitute teacher during their apprenticeship with the exception of substituting for their assigned Talent Together Mentor Teacher on a rare occasion when another substitute teacher is unavailable.
  • The Apprentice Teacher will demonstrate proficiency on all RAP Standards required by the Michigan Department of Labor. Evidence of meeting each standard will be uploaded by the Apprentice Teacher into the Talent Together CRAFT system.
    • Failure to demonstrate proficiency on 100% of RAP standards will jeopardize the Apprentice Teacher’s ability to achieve a Michigan teaching certification.
  • The Apprentice Teacher will be observed and provided with feedback a minimum of two times during the school year by their assigned Talent Together Teacher Leader Facilitator.
  • The Apprentice Teacher will pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) for each certification area declared and approved by Talent Together. Talent Together will reimburse the Teacher Candidate for up to two attempts at this certification area.

Financial Coverage

Talent Together funding covers various expenses, including all tuition, fees, costs associated with the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC), stipends for participant costs, and administrative and staff roles within the consortium.


Apprentice Teachers will receive 80% of a first year teacher’s pay with full benefits. This cost is reimbursed to districts twice a year from Talent Together. If a district chooses to hire the Apprentice mid-year and the Apprentice cannot finish their full-year commitment, Talent Together will not reimburse any of the cost. Mentor Teacher stipends are paid to the teacher directly from Talent Together.

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