Building Local Teacher Pipeline Through “LEAP” Fellowship
Today is a big day for Lenoir, Greene, and Jones County Schools, Lenoir Community College, and ECU as representatives gathered at LCC to officially kickoff the LEAP Fellowship. Pictured, seated, left to right, is Dr. Andre Green; Brent Williams, Lenoir County Public Schools Superintendent; Dr. Rusty Hunt, Lenoir Community College President; Dr. Frank Creech, Greene County Schools Superintendent; and Bryce Marquis, Jones County Public Schools Superintendent. Pictured, standing, are representatives from Lenoir Community College, ECU, Lenoir, Greene, and Jones County Public Schools, and ApprenticeshipNC.
Lenoir Community College and Lenoir, Greene, and Jones County Public Schools, in collaboration with ECU, are entering into a partnership to help build the local teacher pipeline through an exciting opportunity for high school students.
The Lancer Educator Apprenticeship Promise, also known as “LEAP,” is a fellowship for high school students to gain scholarships covering tuition and fees throughout their entire educational pathway from associate to bachelor’s degree, and also to gain on-the-job training through an apprenticeship with the local county school systems. Through this fellowship program, students will receive career-focused engagement opportunities during their high school and college years through paid apprenticeships. Upon graduation from LCC, students will be awarded scholarships to ECU provided by LCPS, GCS, and JCPS. Eligible students will then return to their county service area for three years of service as part of the fellowship program.
“High school students in Lenoir, Greene, and Jones Counties already have the opportunity to attend Lenoir Community College through the Career & College Promise Program, which covers tuition and fees for high school students,” says Dr. Timothy Maddox-Fisher, LCC Vice President of Instruction & Institutional Effectiveness. “Through this new program, high school students will also receive their bachelor’s degree from a four-year institution entirely free through funding provided by the local county schools. Upon completion of the program, these students will also have the opportunity to earn a National Occupational Credential registered apprenticeship through Apprenticeship NC.”
“This is a fantastic opportunity for students in our service area to not only have tuition and fees covered for their entire four years of higher education, but to create meaningful relationships with leaders in education in our counties and work in the field while pursuing their degree,” says Dr. Rusty Hunt, LCC President. “We are excited to partner with our local schools to bring this to fruition, and we are so grateful for the vision and leadership of superintendents Brent Williams, Frank Creech, Bryce Marquis, and retired superintendent Dr. Ben Thigpen as we build the pipeline of teachers in our service area. Because of their support, and the support of donors to the LCC Foundation, we are able to make this happen for our counties.”
“We are excited about the LEAP Fellowship and the strong positive potential represented by this innovative partnership. This collaboration not only helps to address expanding teacher recruitment needs here and across our country, but also it is a powerful investment in our young people and the future of our community,” says Williams. “I am certain that the LEAP Fellowship will become a regional and statewide model of excellence in teacher recruitment and school system and higher education partnerships. I want to thank Dr. Hunt and his leadership team for all that they have done to make this opportunity for aspiring teachers and our school districts a reality.”
"Greene County Schools is pleased to partner with LCC and ECU to provide our students with a supportive and affordable high-quality teacher education pathway,” says Creech. “The LEAP Fellows offers unique apprenticeship experiences to aspiring educators beginning in high school and culminating with the completion of a four-year degree and guaranteed job placement."
Jones County Public Schools and Superintendent Bryce Marquis are very grateful to work with Dr. Hunt, Mr. Williams, and Dr. Creech to create this opportunity to bring our local people back to our communities to teach. “Providing an opportunity for Jones County Public School students to pursue and fulfill a career in in education is vital for our rural communities,” Marquis said. “Partnering with LCC and ECU will allow our school district to collaborate with neighboring counties to produce, recruit, and retain high-quality educators.”
ECU College of Education Dean, Dr. Andre Green shares, “The College is proud and honored to partner with these organizations in building a pipeline of teachers for the children in these communities as they deserve nothing less than the best. We are very hopeful the program will grow in popularity and that many graduating seniors will take advantage of the opportunity to attend LCC to earn their associate degree and then matriculate to ECU to earn their undergraduate degree in an area of teacher education.”
“This transformative collaboration with partner districts and LCC underscores ECU’s commitment to fostering a strong local teacher pipeline, " says Dr. Holly Heath Fales, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Affairs and Educator Preparation. “We extend our gratitude to all partners involved and look forward to the positive regional impact of Project LEAP.”
ECU welcomed LCC to a recent discussion around this partnership. “We are grateful ECU has agreed to support our graduates in their efforts to attend ECU to pursue their Bachelor’s Degree in Education” said Caroline Murphrey, Program Chair of Teacher Preparation at LCC. “This partnership between LCC, ECU, and the three-county service area of Lenoir, Greene, and Jones is a tremendous benefit to high school students and will help to build the pipeline of teachers for years to come.”
Students must meet certain criteria to qualify for the program, such as holding a 2.8 high school GPA, being at least 16 years old and a junior or senior in a local public school and maintaining a 2.8 GPA throughout the entirety of the program. Students must be able to pass a background check and be willing to return to work in the service area for at least three years post-graduation. Each local school district will nominate a certain number of students who are appropriate for the program for application to the LEAP Fellowship at LCC.
For more information about the LEAP Fellowship, students may contact Caroline Murphrey, Teacher Preparation Program Chair, at 252.527.6223, ext. 412 or email cwmurphrey81@lenoircc.edu.
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