Not Just a Pipeline – A Lifeline: Investing in Aspiring Teachers Through Apprenticeship and Local Talent Pathways
Written by: Heather Gauck, Special Education Resource Teacher k-4 at Grand Rapids Public Schools and Talent Together Mentor Teacher
Across Michigan, schools face persistent staffing shortages, most critically, a lack of certified special education teachers. This gap directly affects our ability to support the most vulnerable students. On May 13, 2025, MLive reported that Grand Rapids Public Schools had over 87 teacher vacancies, approximately 33% of which were in special education.
In rural and urban districts where recruitment is tough and turnover is high, Talent Together offers a local solution. Led by a statewide partnership of all 56 Michigan Intermediate School Districts and higher education institutions, Talent Together removes barriers to teacher certification by providing full tuition support, paid on-the-job training, and personalized pathways into the profession. The program mirrors many Grow Your Own programs by developing future educators within local communities. Notably, 43% of Talent Together’s Teacher Candidates are preparing to fill critical special education roles
Digitalized with permission from Michigan Teacher Shortage Study: 2025 Report, by Education Policy Innovation Collaborative (EPIC), 2025.
One of Talent Together’s most impactful features is its Registered Apprenticeship Program. In Teacher Candidates’ final year of program coursework, they train alongside a mentor teacher, earning 80% of a starting salary and receiving tuition support vital for under-resourced communities where qualified teachers are most needed. The hands-on experience builds confidence and classroom readiness, enabling more empathetic adults to provide consistent and personalized support for students.
For the first time, I am serving as a Talent Together Mentor Teacher with an Apprentice Teacher learning alongside me in my classroom at Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS). GRPS currently hosts 5 Talent Together Teacher Candidates with two of these candidates completing their Registered Apprenticeship. Even after just four weeks, I can already see the value: the Apprentice Teacher gains hands-on preparation, I grow through mentorship, and most importantly, students benefit from more consistent and personalized support. As a Michigan Educator Policy Fellow with Teach Michigan, I saw firsthand the impact of Talent Together. It confirmed the power of investing in community-rooted individuals, such as substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, and childcare workers, whose dedication and resilience will strengthen Michigan classrooms.
My Apprentice Teacher Annie Dunn shares, “I have always wanted to be a teacher, but due to financial constraints, it never became a reality. Without this apprenticeship, I don’t think becoming a teacher would have been possible for me. The support, experience, and salary make it a real pathway, not a dream.”
State investment is essential to the success of programs like Talent Together. With clear certification pathways, financial aid, and wrap-around support, the program makes teaching accessible, especially for working adults balancing jobs and families. These investments are not just about credentials, but about building a high-quality educator workforce for Michigan’s future.
As a long time classroom teacher, I know that to truly address the instability caused by constant vacancies, Michigan must commit to sustained state funding. Talent Together should be a permanent line item in the education budget. The in-classroom Registered Apprenticeship Program and strategic support offer a long-term solution to Michigan’s teacher shortage, not a short-term fix.
Supporting programs like Talent Together is more than a response to vacancies; it’s a strategic investment in students, schools, and our state’s future. When we align state vision with local talent, we create sustainable educator pathways and strengthen schools across every community. With the right investment, Apprentice Teachers like Annie learning in my classroom today, will become the steady, compassionate teachers that Michigan students deserve tomorrow.
Education Policy Innovation Collaborative (EPIC). (2025). Michigan teacher shortage study: 2025 report. Michigan State University. https://epicedpolicy.org/michigan-teacher-shortage-study-2025-report/