News : Vinton-Shellsburg Awarded Teacher & Paraeducator Apprenticeship Grant

Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District has been selected as one of the recipients of Governor Kim Reynolds' Teacher & Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship (TPRA) grants. This award is part of the $3.4 million in new Registered Apprenticeship grants announced by the Governor to expand education careers across Iowa. The Teacher & Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Program (TPRA) is an innovative pathway for current high school students and adult paraeducators to earn credentials while learning and working in the classroom. More information on how current paraeducators could take advantage of this opportunity will be shared at a later date.

Vinton-Shellsburg is one of only 11 districts in the state to receive this funding, which will support the development of new teacher and paraeducator apprenticeships in our district. This program is essential to helping address our teacher pipeline needs, providing opportunities for aspiring educators to gain valuable, in-classroom experience while pursuing their certifications.

I want to extend a special thank you to Louise Fleming for her exceptional work in preparing and submitting the grant application. Louise's dedication and efforts were instrumental in ensuring that Vinton-Shellsburg was considered and ultimately selected for this opportunity.

We are proud to stand alongside the other awarded districts, including:

• Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom Community School District

• Davis County Community School District

• Dubuque Community School District

• Hamburg Community School District

• Mason City Community School District

• Mediapolis Community School District

• New Hampton Community School District

• Panorama Community School District

• South Central Calhoun Community School District

• Waterloo Community School District

This initiative highlights the state's focus on innovative solutions to address workforce needs and provide future educators with the tools to succeed.

Thank you all for your continued support and commitment to our district's growth and development. If you would like more information about the TPRA program and today's announcement, you can visit the Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Program (TPRA).