Ellie Joles, Author at MI Talent Together

Not Just a Pipeline- A Lifeline

Across Michigan, the need for certified special education teachers remains critical — but dedicated educators like Heather Gauck are helping lead the change. As a Mentor Teacher with Talent Together, Heather shares how the Registered Apprenticeship model is transforming lives, classrooms, and communities by preparing passionate educators where they’re needed most.

Stronger Together: Celebrating the Partners Powering Talent Together’s Mission

Stronger Together: Celebrating the Partners Powering Talent Together’s Mission Working Together to Build Michigan’s Educator Pipeline At Talent Together, our mission to address Michigan’s educator shortage is powered by an incredible network of partners who share our vision. Together, we’re supporting more than 1,200 aspiring educators across 400 school districts with debt-free pathways to teaching — because we believe every community deserves high-quality educators, and every future teacher deserves an opportunity to succeed. These partnerships make it possible to remove barriers, expand access to teacher preparation, and invest in the next generation of Michigan educators. Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative (MEWI) The Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative has been a cornerstone partner since our launch, providing strategic direction, technical assistance, and design expertise to ensure long-term sustainability. Through MEWI’s guidance, we’ve been able to offer 100% tuition-free education, a paid year-long apprenticeship, fully online degree access statewide, and sustainable career advancement pathways. The impact is clear: 96% of our candidates say we’re effectively removing the top barriers to teacher certification. Jack Elsey Founder | MEWI “The more we can make sure that starting a career in education is a financially viable career — from the moment training begins — the more likely we are to convince the workforce of the future to consider becoming a teacher.” — Jack Elsey, Founder of the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative School District Partners: Growing Talent from Within Our school district partners are at the center of our work. They identify passionate individuals already serving in their schools — from paraprofessionals to long-term substitutes — and help them take the next step toward teacher certification. Superintendent William Heath of Portland Public Schools, which currently has nine (9) Talent Together Teacher Candidates, shares this commitment: “The Talent Together program has created a vital pipeline of passionate, local talent during a time when recruitment is increasingly challenging, particularly in specialized and hard-to-fill roles. By supporting individuals already connected to our district and community in becoming certified educators, we’ve been able to fill vacancies with candidates who not only understand our students’ needs and the culture of our schools but are also deeply committed to staying long term. It’s been a proactive and sustainable solution to persistent staffing shortages.” William Heath Superintendent | Portland Public Schools This partnership model ensures that schools are staffed with educators who know their communities — and are committed to staying. Higher Education Partners: Pathways to Certification Through our partnerships with accredited universities and colleges, we connect aspiring educators with high-quality, affordable certification programs. These institutions share our commitment to equity and flexibility, offering online coursework that allows candidates to keep working in their school communities while earning their credentials. Strong Partners for our Registered Apprenticeship Program The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity advises & coordinates registration of Talent Together’s Registered Apprenticeship Program with the United States Department of Labor. We ensure that candidates can earn a wage while completing their teacher preparation. Our 300 Apprentice Teachers spend a full year of paid classroom experience in the grade level and subject area of their certification. This real-world preparation has proven its value with a 95% program completion rate. Our work in this space has earned recognition, including two Race to Talent Apprenticeship Champion Awards from Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium and Macomb/St. Clair. Michigan Works! also helps braid state and federal workforce funding with Talent Together resources, expanding opportunities for more candidates. Why These Partnerships Matter Every partner plays a critical role in addressing Michigan’s educator shortage. Whether it’s providing strategic vision, opening doors in local districts, delivering high-quality coursework, or creating paid apprenticeship opportunities, these collaborations are shaping a stronger, more sustainable future for Michigan schools.

Craft Case Study

Craft Case Study; The Gold Standard of Teacher Training By Scott Smith, Craft Talent Together’s A state-wide apprenticeship program is breaking barriers and building a stronger Teacher pipeline, with support from Craft. Introduction Across Michigan, disconnected workforce education systems were keeping talented people out of teaching. Talent Together, a consortium of all 56 Intermediate School Districts, created registered teacher apprenticeships that remove financial barriers keeping promising educators out of the profession. This case study explores how Talent Together connects systems to close the gap with Craft Connect as the data backbone, enabling scale and success. Reimagining the Pathway to Teaching “It’s not enough just to bring new teachers into the classroom if they are underprepared, unsupported, and don’t stay in the profession,” said Gina Zuberbier, Program Manager at Talent Together. The program places aspiring teachers in full-time, paid classroom roles for an entire school year, supported by mentor teachers and backed by formal USDOL standards. This connects state funding, district partnerships, and university training into one seamless system. Breaking Down Financial Barriers Traditional teacher preparation requires unpaid student teaching while paying tuition—impossible for most working adults. “You’d typically have to quit your job, go to zero income, and pay a university to student teach,” said Bradley Kingston, Director of Data & Analytics. “No one making $30,000 a year can do that. Through our program, teacher candidates get their tuition covered and continue receiving a salary.” One apprentice on remote Beaver Island completed university coursework virtually while apprenticing locally. Her apprenticeship salary exceeded her previous paraprofessional wage. Why Apprenticeships Are the Gold Standard of Teacher Training Traditional student teaching offers 9 to 18 weeks of experience. Talent Together’s model stretches a full academic year. “You live through the full cycle—the challenges, the celebrations, the parent interactions,” said Zuberbier. “The only way to get that experience is to live it.” Why Apprenticeships Are the Gold Standard of Teacher Training Traditional student teaching offers 9 to 18 weeks of experience. Talent Together’s model stretches a full academic year. “You live through the full cycle—the challenges, the celebrations, the parent interactions,” said Zuberbier. “The only way to get that experience is to live it.” What It Takes To Run a Program This Scale With over 140 apprentices in two years, Talent Together manages complex logistics, compliance, and documentation. Each apprentice represents approximately 10 hours of administrative work. “When you multiply that by 90 to 100 people, you’re talking 900 to 1,000 hours a year just in documentation,” said Kingston. Craft Connect eliminates this burden through automated registration and real-time compliance tracking. Craft Connect: Infrastructure That Scales With You Craft Connect makes tracking progress simple during the school year. It’s where all standards are documented, mentor approvals live, and DOL-compliant registration happens. “Craft is the only place we document standards progress. Their platform gives us the credibility we need with the DOL and the districts,” said Zuberbier. “A spreadsheet can’t do that.” Craft Connect: Infrastructure That Scales With You Craft Connect makes tracking progress simple during the school year. It’s where all standards are documented, mentor approvals live, and DOL-compliant registration happens. “Craft is the only place we document standards progress. Their platform gives us the credibility we need with the DOL and the districts,” said Zuberbier. “A spreadsheet can’t do that.” The Funding Challenge in Teaching Apprenticeships Funding is the most significant hurdle new programs face. Michigan allocated $78M to support Talent Together through the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative (MEWI). Craft configured its platform to meet RAP standards, including Work Process Schedules and Related Instruction Outlines. The result? A passed USDOL audit and a pathway to impact thousands of students. Looking Ahead: Scale with Integrity Early indicators are strong: 54 of 55 apprentices completed their standards, with 65% becoming teachers, significantly improving upon the USDOL average of 35%. They aim to reach 225 new certified teachers by the end of the 2025-2026 school year. “Everyone knows a kid who goes to public school,” said Zuberbier. “A stronger, more diverse teacher workforce benefits everyone.” Conclusion Talent Together proves it’s possible to make teacher preparation more rigorous, effective, and accessible. Their apprenticeship model is a blueprint for connecting workforce education systems nationwide. Talent Together & Craft Education show what’s possible when mission meets method at scale. Read the Original Craft Case Study Here

Morning Mix Class Act Winner: Dana Omness

Morning Mix Class Act Winner: Dana Omness By Nicole Stoner, FOX 17 West Michigan The Fox 17 Morning Mix’s Class Act promotion is a yearlong partnership with Biggby Coffee with the aim of putting the focus on our amazing local teachers. June’s winner is Dana Omness, a Science teacher at Wayland Union Middle School. Dana enjoys teaching because of the new opportunities each day brings. She credits her almost 30-year career at Wayland Union to her own students: she learns from them just as much as they learn from her. Dana also enjoys teaching science because of the subject’s material and how it can invoke curiosity and creativity in students. Dana was nominated by her sister, Tracy Daniel. Tracy says, “Dana has positively impacted her Wayland community in countless ways: as a conference presenter, science board representative, grant writer and recipient, volleyball coach, tennis coach, student award recipient, talent together college prep mentor teacher and a science enthusiast inspiring 1000s of Wayland middle schoolers with her passion and love of science!” In addition, Dana has been awarded a $500 check to use in her classroom from the Morning Mix and Biggby Coffee! Watch this month’s video and nominate a teacher you know! Congratulations, Dana! Thank you for being a Class Act! Read Original Article Here

Vision to Reality: Stories from the Next Generation of Michigan Educators

Vision to Reality: Stories from the Next Generation of Michigan Educators Real Stories. Real Impact. When we talk about the future of education in Michigan, we’re not just talking about policies or programs—we’re talking about people. People like Donille, Lisbeth, and Kenneth are showing us what’s possible when passion meets action and when opportunity is matched with support. At Talent Together, we have the privilege of walking alongside more than 1,200 teacher candidates—each bringing their unique story, strength, and spark to the profession. Through our collaborative effort with 19 post- secondary partners and 412 school districts and intermediate school district partners across the state, we’re not just helping people become teachers. We’re helping them become the kind of educators Michigan students deserve. Paraprofessional to Certified Teacher: Donille’s Journey Donille Cabanaw Dexter Community School District Donille Cabanaw began her journey as a paraeducator in Dexter Community Schools in Washtenaw Intermediate School District and quickly realized she wanted to be a lead teacher in her own classroom. Inspired by her daughter’s first day of kindergarten, Donille knew she wanted to make a difference in students’ lives. Like many aspiring educators, Donille faced real-world obstacles: raising children, balancing work and school, and managing the high cost of childcare and tuition. When she found Talent Together, things changed. The program offered her more than just funding—it offered community, structure, and mentorship. Donille recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Lake Superior State University with her Bachelor of Science Elementary Education degree. She was named Most Outstanding Graduate by the College of Education. Reflecting on her experience, she said: “I am more than prepared to enter the classroom and continue to learn and grow into a great educator. Being an apprentice teacher for an entire school year has given me a unique insight into how a classroom works from the beginning to the end. I know that when I enter the classroom on my own, I will truly understand how it will run throughout the year to be the most effective teacher possible.” You can read more about Donille’s story here. Mackinac Island Teacher of the Year Lisbeth McGregor brings over two decades of experience in education to her new role as a certified preschool and kindergarten teacher at Mackinac Island School District in Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District. Her story is a journey of service that led to a new chapter in her career through Talent Together. This year, Lisbeth was named Teacher of the Year by her peers—a recognition she describes as both deeply meaningful and a testament of her commitment to her students. Lisbeth is especially passionate about encouraging future educators to advocate for themselves. When asked what advice she’d give to a current teacher candidate, she shared: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You’re never alone. Your professors, Talent Together staff, and your school community want to see you succeed. Don’t let silence be the thing that holds you back.” This year has brought many “firsts” for Lisbeth. While she felt prepared for most of them, one unexpected challenge reminded her of the continued value of support. “I reached out to Amy Peterson, Talent Together’s Regional Director for Northern Michigan, and she helped me navigate the situation. Even after graduation, that support didn’t go away—it made all the difference.” Read Lisbeth’s full story here. Lisbeth McGregor Mackinac Island School District A New Chapter: Kenneth’s Journey from Law Enforcement to the Classroom Kenneth Taylor’s path to education is anything but typical. With a degree in Theatre & Entertainment Arts from Northern Michigan University, his career took him through law enforcement, funeral services, and over a decade as a school resource officer with the Hannahville Indian Community. While he always enjoyed working with students, it was reintroducing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program that kindled his desire to teach. He realized he wanted to be in the classroom daily—building relationships and watching students grow. Kenneth Taylor Bark River-Harris Community Schools Kenneth is finishing the last few weeks of his apprenticeship at Bark River-Harris Community School District in Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District. Kenneth will finish his studies through the #T.E.A.C.H program and is set to graduate this August and lead a classroom of his own this fall. Kenneth advises future teacher candidates: “This journey isn’t easy—but nothing truly worthwhile ever is. It’s going to challenge you, but it’s also going to change you in the best ways. Don’t give up. And if along the way you realize it’s not for you, that’s okay, too—because at the end of the day, it’s about being the best we can be for the kids.” You can read more about Kenneth’s story here. This Is What Progress Looks Like The stories of Donille, Lisbeth, and Kenneth are just a few examples of what’s possible when aspiring educators are given real support. Behind every classroom lightbulb moment, every engaged student, and every confident new teacher, there’s a web of effort, encouragement, and care. As Talent Together continues to grow, we remain grounded in our mission: to reduce barriers, uplift communities, and transform the path to teaching in Michigan. And to the educators walking this road—whether you’re just starting out or guiding others along the way—we see you. We believe in you. And we’re so glad to be in this together.

Meet a TC: Rebecca Urban

Rebecca Urban, Talent together Alum turned Mentor Teacher for our Registered Apprenticeship Program

Meet a TC: Joylan Furtado

Jessie Piippo is a dedicated and passionate future special education teacher with a background in healthcare. She is pursuing her dream of helping students realize their potential and succeed in the workforce. Through Talent Together, Jessie has overcome financial challenges and is now an instructor in the Project SEARCH program, where she works closely with student interns to teach job-specific and soft skills.

Meet a TC: Lisbeth McGregor

Talent Together is a statewide solution to Michigan’s classroom crisis

A Statewide Solution to Michigan’s Classroom Crisis Michigan’s Teacher Shortage A recent Detroit News investigation shed light on Michigan’s growing class sizes, but behind that issue lies an even greater concern: the state’s ongoing teacher shortage. According to MSU’s EPIC research, in 2022-23, district leaders reported having twice as many teacher vacancies and only half as many applicants per position compared to 2019-20. Without more high-quality teachers, class sizes will continue to rise — affecting student learning across the state. Michigan’s answer to this crisis is Talent Together, a homegrown, innovative teacher preparation program led by all 56 intermediate school districts (ISDs) and regional education service agencies (RESAs). Partnering with 18 colleges and universities, the program eliminates the top barriers to entering the profession: cost, time, and access. Rooted in Schools, Ready to Teach The program is effective because it’s designed by Michigan educators for Michigan schools. Participants are often already working in schools as paraprofessionals or aides, embedded in their communities, and committed to staying. Supported throughout the process, they receive credentials and practical skills needed to lead classrooms. With an 88% retention rate, the model works. As Calhoun ISD’s Taia Cisco puts it, “I’m learning to adapt instruction, support students more effectively, and advocate for students’ needs.” Talent Together’s results speak volumes: 96% of its participants report feeling confident and classroom-ready after their training. The best teachers often start with hands-on experience, and this program builds on that foundation by placing candidates in real classrooms, learning alongside experienced mentors. Taia Ciscp, Calhoun Intermediate School District Real Impact One such teacher is Lisbeth McGregor from Mackinac Island Public Schools. “Through many years of supportive roles, I’ve learned so much about teaching and the whole child,” she says. “Talent Together helped me transition from support staff to lead teacher—something I had dreamed of for years.” Recognized as a Registered Apprenticeship Program by the U.S. Department of Labor, Talent Together allows teacher candidates to earn a wage while they learn. For people like Alex Getty of Lake City Area Schools, that support is critical. “Talent Together has been life-changing,” he says. “I could support my family while pursuing my dream.” Lisbeth McGregor, Mackinaw Island School District Full support The program also emphasizes observation of model teachers, creating a cycle of practice, feedback, and reflection that ensures readiness from day one. Leah Porter, the 2022 Michigan Teacher of the Year, praises the program’s community: “It’s inspiring to be surrounded by professionals so committed to making a difference.”Talent Together currently supports over 1,200 teacher candidates in 400+ districts, with 229 newly certified teachers already in classrooms and another 210 on the way. It’s the largest “Grow Your Own” teacher initiative in the nation, with reach into both urban and rural communities. The desire to teach is still strong. What’s been missing is a way to get there. Talent Together removes the barriers—bringing passionate, qualified educators into classrooms where they’re needed most. To ensure this work continues, Michigan residents can contact their legislators and advocate for full funding in the state school aid budget. Sustained investment in programs like Talent Together will reduce class sizes, fill vacancies, and strengthen education statewide. Daveda Colbert is superintendent at Wayne RESA, Eric Hoppstock is superintendent at Berrien RESA and Jason Mellema is superintendent at Ingham ISD.

✨📅✨ Save the Date: Talent Together's Inaugural Conference | Oct. 22, 2026