From high school to hands-on teaching

From the spring 2026 edition of the Apprenticeship Works newsletter.

Like many high schoolers, Abby Van Der Bill struggled to decide what was next after graduation. However, in 2025, as a high school senior, the Willmar Public School District’s “Intro to Education Class” helped her set a goal. In this class, she worked with younger students as part of her coursework, giving her a hands-on introduction to teaching.

When the class introduced her to the Minnesota Teacher Apprenticeship JATC’s Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program (RTAP), Van Der Bill saw a path to her future. She applied for the program and began her apprenticeship in August 2025.

Now, Van Der Bill is completing her on-the-job learning in her home district in a classroom of 23 kindergartners. She is learning under journey teacher Kaylee Jahraus, who was once Van Der Bill’s second-grade teacher and is now steering her through her first year of apprenticeship. 

“I didn’t really know what I was supposed to do. But Kaylee has been very helpful with that. I’m feeling more confident in myself,” Van Der Bill said. “My family was all super supportive of it, and they thought it was a great idea for getting more teachers in the school district,” she said, acknowledging that she was initially a bit overwhelmed in the classroom.

More than ready-to-launch

When the state began shaping the program in 2023, the Willmar Public School District quickly joined the effort to create and launch the program. Its goal was to fill teaching roles it struggled to fill – special education, English as a second language and elementary instruction, said Liz Windingstad, the district’s director of human resources.

“I used to get 300 applications for an elementary opening. Now, if we get 30 … we’re doing great,” she said. “Special ed., we’re happy to get one or two.” 

The west-central Minnesota district is just far enough away from the metro area to fall off the radar for recent college graduates looking for teaching jobs. With anywhere from 30 to 70 openings for teachers each year, the district wanted a pathway to train new teachers, especially those who reflect Willmar’s Somali and Latino communities.  

Building a results-focused program

The three-year apprenticeship program they created lets every apprentice earn two teaching licenses – special education (academic behavioral strategist) and K-6 elementary education.

In partnership with Southwest Minnesota State University, the Minnesota Teacher Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (MNTJATC) created a three-year registered teacher apprenticeship program with flexibility and choice for the apprentices.

Van Der Bill is one of the 13 apprentices in the program who are from Willmar or have worked in Willmar schools. This includes two who recently graduated from Willmar High and 11 who have been support staff or are parents of students in the district. 

“Of the 13 apprentices, 70% are BIPOC – so 70% of our apprentices look like the students we serve, for the first time,” said Josie Ammerman, the apprentice program navigator and coordinator.

A steep climb into college level courses

Going straight from high school into the apprenticeship was an eye-opener for Van Der Bill and other apprentices. “The schoolwork is a lot different than high school work,” she said. “I don’t think I was prepared for how hard the college classes were going to be.” 

Anticipating that challenge, the district’s program includes time during the school day for apprentices to do their college classwork. Journey teachers, staff and other apprentices also offer support for their academic work.

The blend of coursework and working in the classroom is a great benefit of the program, Van Der Bill said. “I’m going into the classroom, and I’m actually seeing what I’m learning about,” she said. “I like working hands-on and being in the classroom. I think that will benefit me in my future.” 

Her journey teacher agreed. “When I was going to college, you learned educational theories and methodologies in isolation, and sometimes years later you would put them into place in the classroom,” said Kaylee Jarhaus. “In the apprenticeship … they are seeing those concepts and methodologies in action.”

Advantages of apprenticeship

The benefits of being able to stay at home and work toward a teaching license was a key reason Van Der Bill decided to apply for an apprenticeship.  A good wage, family and community made it easy to say yes to apprenticeship.

Apprentices are paid for their time, and their college tuition is covered by the district, so they won’t have college debt.

“It’s saving me a lot of money,” she said. “You get to stay home with your family, so now I’m not going to miss my whole family while I am off somewhere else.”

And after a few months in the classroom, she has clarity about her future. “I wanted to be in this program because you can work with special ed. students. I think that’s amazing. I love watching them grow.”

For Jahraus, it has been exciting to see Van Der Bill embrace her role. “Even in a few short months it’s been really fun to see her confidence grow,” she said. “It’s very, very special for me to be able to be part of it for her and see it come full circle.”    

In December 2025, the Willmar Public School District accepted applications for its second cohort of apprentices.