Lexington City Schools receives federal grant to license teachers
Teacher assistants, substitutes and other school employees in 16 North Carolina districts will be able to become licensed teachers while keeping their jobs and paychecks, through a five-year, $5.5 million federal grant to Western Governors University (WGU) and its apprenticeship organization, Craft Education, in partnership with The Innovation Project.
The program will prepare 500 teacher apprentices and train 250 mentor teachers starting in fall 2027. Apprentices finish the last 60 credits of a WGU bachelor's degree in elementary or special education and earn a North Carolina teaching license and a Registered Apprenticeship credential.
Lexington City Schools is one of the 16 participating districts. In 2024-25, 30 of its roughly 180 teachers left the district, a turnover rate of 16.6%, compared with 14.6% statewide, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. Its teacher vacancy rate was 12.4% at the 40th day of the 2025-26 school year, compared with 7.4% statewide.
Dr. Sharon Contreras, CEO of The Innovation Project, and Dr. Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, president of Craft Education at WGU, are available for interviews. Would you like to connect with either of them, or would more information be helpful? I'm happy to hop on a quick call or share details over email.
The full release is below.
Thanks so much,
Kathryn
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Kathryn Peterson
Corporate Communications & Public Relations
Western Governors University
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Western Governors University, Craft Education and The Innovation Project Join Forces to Scale Paid Teacher Apprenticeships in North Carolina
Federal grant creates an earn-and-learn pathway for 500 school employees to become licensed teachers
RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 12, 2026 — Teacher assistants, substitutes and other school employees in 15-20 North Carolina districts will be able to become licensed teachers while keeping their jobs and paychecks, through a five-year, $5.5 million federal grant awarded to Western Governors University (WGU) and its apprenticeship organization Craft Education, in partnership with The Innovation Project.
North Carolina districts began this school year with 2,009 teacher vacancies, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. Many school employees want to teach, but leaving a paycheck to finish a degree and student teach puts that goal out of reach.
The North Carolina Teacher Apprenticeship and Workforce Advancement Initiative is built to remove that barrier. It will prepare 500 teacher apprentices and train 250 mentor teachers, beginning in fall 2027.
The Innovation Project, a North Carolina-based collaborative of public-school districts, will serve as the registered apprenticeship sponsor for all participating districts. WGU's School of Education will provide the coursework, and Craft Education will manage apprenticeship operations, from mentor support to federal reporting.
"Our districts know they cannot solve teacher shortages through recruitment alone," said Dr. Sharon Contreras, CEO of The Innovation Project. "We must create a statewide framework for developing future teachers already working in our schools. By working together, we can expand access to the profession while building stronger local educator pipelines."
Apprentices will stay employed by their districts, work alongside mentor teachers and complete the final 60 credits of a WGU bachelor's degree in elementary or special education. They will also complete a North Carolina teaching license and a Registered Apprenticeship credential.
"Apprenticeship works in health care and the skilled trades because people learn on the job, with a mentor and a clear path to a credential. Teaching should work the same way," said Dr. Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, president of Craft Education at WGU. "We handle the hours tracking, funding and federal reporting behind the scenes, so districts can focus on developing great teachers and keep the program going after the grant ends."
About WGU and Craft Education
Western Governors University (WGU) is an accredited, nonprofit online university serving more than 190,000 students nationwide. Through flexible, competency-based degree programs and strong employer and community partnerships, WGU helps learners build skills and credentials aligned to workforce needs, including preparing educators for schools and communities. Through Craft Education, part of WGU, the university also helps school districts, colleges and employers design and run apprenticeship programs that let people earn a degree, a credential and a paycheck at the same time. Learn more at wgu.edu andcrafteducation.com.
About The Innovation Project
The Innovation Project (TIP) is a collaborative of forward-thinking public education leaders who are unleashing student potential and shaping the future of learning. TIP incubates innovative projects that can be implemented at scale across North Carolina and the nation. Learn more at tipnc.org.
Federal Funding Disclosure: This project is funded 46.8% by a U.S. Department of Education Teacher Quality Partnership grant totaling $5,506,131. The remaining 53.2% will be provided through nonfederal sources, including WGU, The Innovation Project and participating school districts.
