What if the people already working in our schools could become the teachers our classrooms need?
In this Ask5 conversation, Robert Sanderl explores how SUNY Empire is rethinking teacher preparation through its Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program—and how apprenticeship and school district partnerships are helping create a stronger pathway into the profession.
We talk about what this model means for teaching assistants, paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, and other aspiring educators who are ready to take the next step but may be balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. By combining graduate education with hands-on classroom experience, the apprenticeship model gives future teachers the opportunity to learn while contributing to the schools and communities where they work.
Robert also shares how partnerships with school districts can do more than help recruit teachers. They can create a pipeline for developing, supporting, and retaining educators within the communities they already know.
The conversation closes with a look at what’s ahead for teacher preparation at SUNY Empire and the opportunities emerging for both aspiring educators and school districts.
