To help address the ongoing teacher shortage in Lake County, the Workforce Development Board partnered with BloomBoard to create a teacher apprenticeship program for current paraprofessionals employed in local school districts. The program allows participants to work full-time while attending school full-time, enabling them to earn their teaching credentials and degrees in three years or less.
Currently, 29 paraprofessionals from Beach Park District 3, Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95, and Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 are enrolled and expected to complete their credentials by 2028. The Workforce Development Board supports participating school districts by reimbursing a portion of the tuition costs for each apprentice’s degree pathway.
This innovative program creates benefits for the community by helping school districts build a stronger teacher pipeline, providing paraprofessionals with affordable career advancement opportunities, and supporting students by increasing access to qualified educators. The initiative also strengthens the local economy by investing in workforce development and long-term educational success.

Learn more in this video clip:
How Workforce Boards Can Help with Teacher Shortages