Arkansas Tech University Class of 2026 members Carly Parish and Emma Hyslip are more than college graduates. They helped ATU and the State of Arkansas break new ground in preparing teacher candidates for the classroom.
Parish and Hyslip are among the first ATU teacher apprenticeship graduates through a 2-plus-2 program that allowed them to take their first two years of college classes at Ozarka College before completing their bachelor’s degrees through Arkansas Tech via distance learning.
All the while, Parish and Hyslip were teacher apprentices at Cherokee Elementary School in the Highland School District. With their degrees in hand, they are now certified to begin their careers as classroom teachers.
“It’s a grow your own model,” said Dr. Tim Carter, dean of the ATU College of Education and Health. “The apprentices work like paraprofessionals in their schools while taking online classes with us at Arkansas Tech. It provides a pathway that allows students to be employed while they are completing their bachelor’s degree and their year-long residency.”
The Arkansas Teacher Residency Program was established by the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2021 through a federal apprenticeship grant in order to make degree attainment in pursuit of a teaching career accessible to more Arkansans.
The audience served by the program involves students who wish to complete a degree while being employed in a school district as teacher apprentices.
“I like working with kids,” said Parish. “I’ve always liked working with kids. When you see them outside of school and they are excited to see you…I like that. I liked the idea of getting to stay at home and work locally. The teacher apprenticeship was a good opportunity to get some experience, meet some new people and get some good advice. My professors were flexible. If we e-mailed or called, they would answer and give us a lot of help.”
Individuals interested in pursuing the Arkansas Teacher Registered Apprenticeship model through the ATU College of Education and Health may contact Veronica Scott, ATU director of teacher education student services, at (479) 968-0290 or vscott@atu.edu.
“I was able to stay at home, be with my family and not have to go so far away,” said Hyslip. “With this program, I was able to work as a paraprofessional and get more experience under my belt.”
