Cherokee County Youth Apprenticeship Program

What is Youth Apprenticeship? Youth Apprenticeship was initiated in Georgia to insure a well educated and highly skilled workforce. It is designed to bring together the components necessary for a successful career:

Education & Experience Key components: school-based learning work-based learning connecting activities

Purpose: structured combination of school-based and work- based learning available to students who are age 16 or older and in the 11th grade or 12 th grade coordinated effort involving business and industry goal of preparing students for the world of work and providing Georgia with a high-skilled, technologically competitive workforce

Student Benefits Youth Apprenticeship allows a student to: · Explore connections between school and work · Explore career interests in particular areas · Learn from skilled mentors · Earn post-secondary credits · Improve transition to work · Earn progressive pay while in school

Employer Benefits Businesses are provided with: · A skilled, technical workforce · An avenue for partnerships with secondary and postsecondary schools · A reduction in training costs · An opportunity to develop a homegrown workforce

Current Status of Youth Apprenticeship Program Georgia · 3,664 apprentices · 2,518 participating employers · 163 participating school systems · 82 youth apprenticeship coordinators

Employer/Mentors A mentor is an older, more experienced person who seeks to further the development of character and competence in a younger person by guiding the latter in acquiring mastery of progressively more complex skills and tasks in which the mentor is already proficient. The guidance is accomplished through demonstration, instruction, challenge, and encouragement.

Georgia Teacher Apprenticeship Historical Perspective Patterned after Teacher Cadet Program Began with a few interested systems meeting to explore possibilities Interest grew as success became evident 1999 Task Force formed by DOE Teacher Apprentice is ONE component of Youth Apprenticeship

Current Status of Teacher Apprenticeship Program · 311 teacher apprentices · 54 participating high schools · 38 participating school systems

Teacher Apprentice Program School to Career Initiative –High School - Classroom & field experience –Post Secondary - College of Education (4 year college) One of Six Career Pathways –Medical –Technology / Engineering –Human Services * Teacher Apprentice –Agri-Business –Business / Marketing –The Arts & Humanities Hands on Training

Apprentice’s Responsibilities Attain career knowledge and skills Maintain confidentiality Attend scheduled seminars with coordinator Meet regularly with mentors Produce a professional portfolio

Coordinator’s Responsibilities Provide advisement of program, Document apprentice performance Communicate with mentors Expose apprentice to “all aspects” of profession Maintain follow-up through post-secondary education

Evaluation Time Employer = 40% Includes Time on the Job grade Portfolio = 20% Rough drafts Portfolio Presentation Coordinator = 40% We ALL have an impact!!

School to Career Training = Success Better prepared future employees Real life experiences –Increase probability of staying in the profession Possible college credit Education that makes a difference Future success for apprentices