Teacher Apprenticeship

New in 2026–2027: Program specific course content will be weighted as Honors-level coursework. See Program Coursework below for more details.

Prerequisites: Teacher Apprentice Program

• Must be a Junior
• Unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher (Dual Enrollment with Reynolds Community College is mandatory)

This two-year Teacher Apprentice Program prepares students for future study and careers in education through college-level coursework, applied teaching theory, and three supervised classroom internships. Students develop foundational skills in lesson planning, instructional strategies, classroom management, child development, and professional communication while earning transferable college credit. Coursework is delivered through a combination of ACE instruction and Reynolds Community College courses, requiring strong time management, organization, and academic discipline.

Students in the Teacher Apprentice Program simultaneously function as high school students, college students, and student teachers, requiring strong maturity, organization, and accountability. This includes managing coursework, internships, and independent travel between the ACE Center and assigned internship locations, with effective time management essential to meeting responsibilities and deadlines.

Students complete a structured sequence of internships and practicums under the supervision of HCPS master teachers, with increasing responsibility each semester. These experiences are designed to build professional confidence, instructional skill, and real-world classroom readiness.

• Junior Year – Fall (Observational Practicum): 20 hours of observational experience
• Junior Year – Spring (Internship I): 45 internship hours in a local HCPS elementary school
• Senior Year – Fall (Internship II): Students complete 60 internship hours taking on expanded instructional responsibilities
• Senior Year – Spring (Internship III): Students complete 60+ internship hours, culminating in advanced classroom participation, lesson delivery, and professional practice aligned with postsecondary education pathways.

These internships and practicums provide authentic exposure to the teaching profession and prepare students for college-level education programs and future employment in schools.

Students are expected to participate in Educators Rising (EdRising), the national career and technical student organization for future educators, which provides leadership development opportunities, competitive events, and exposure to education pathways at the state and national levels.

In addition to earning high school and college credit, students will work toward the following recognized credentials:

• Workplace Readiness Skills (Year 1)
• CWSE5691 - Recognizing and Reporting Child & Neglect for Educators (Year 2)
• ParaPro (Educational Testing Service - ETS) (Year 2)
• Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) through the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), a transfer-focused credential designed to reduce time and cost to a bachelor’s degree

This program operates like the education profession students are preparing to enter. Students are expected to:

• Wear required work attire daily
• Display a visible ID badge at all times
• Demonstrate professional behavior, punctuality, accountability, and respectful communication

Work attire sample images appear in the image carousel below