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The UAA School of Education has been awarded three new grants by the Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Department of Education and Early Development to support apprentice educators in Kodiak, update apprenticeship coursework and launch a leadership initiative in partnership with the University of Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Southeast.

The three grants from Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ DEED will help strengthen existing programs and create new opportunities for Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ’s future teachers:

• $8,000 in direct funding to apprentice educators in Kodiak, covering tuition and fees to support aspiring teachers where they live and work.
• $25,000 to revise upper-division coursework and enhance the existing educator apprenticeship program.
• $100,000 joint grant with University of Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Southeast to design and develop a leadership pathway, supporting the professional growth of educators aspiring to leadership roles in schools and districts.

UAA's apprenticeship for educators program is a work-based learning model that allows individuals to earn while they learn, gaining necessary experience while progressing toward teacher certification. The program helps embed future teachers in their own communities — ensuring teacher preparation is responsive to regional needs while they train within their own home districts. Only since 2022 has the United States Department of Labor accepted registered apprenticeships as a pathway to teacher certification. This fall, UAA welcomed its first cohort of apprentice teachers from around the state.

“In a highly applied profession like education, our students need access to practical in-classroom skills to be effective. As UAA educates the next generation of Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ teachers, we're also learning from them. These early cohorts' experiences inform how the program continues to develop. It's a very mutually rewarding experience," said Dr. Tonia Dousay, dean of the UAA School of Education.

In addition to these advancements, Dean Dousay is accepting a national award on behalf of UAA for the Culturally Responsive Apprenticeship Pathway for Early Childhood Education, earning the 2025 Colleagues’ Choice Innovation Award from the Western Academic Leadership Forum. This honor underscores UAA’s role in championing accessible and culturally relevant education solutions that directly benefit Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ’s schools and students.

Through these initiatives, UAA reaffirms its leadership in teacher preparation and workforce development, ensuring Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ’s schools are staffed with highly qualified educators who are trained at home to serve and strengthen their communities.