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After a circuitous journey that included degrees and careers in human services and finance, Aubree Kline rediscovered her lifelong passion for education when she returned to the classroom as a substitute teacher for her daughter's preschool.

"As soon as I substituted that first day, I was like, 'this is where I want to be, this is where I was meant to be,'" said Kline.

More time in the classroom only solidified her interest in returning to school to become a licensed teacher. For years, however, the structure and cost of traditional degree programs prevented her from achieving that goal. The pieces didn't align until last spring when her employer, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District (through sponsoring organization Sealaska Heritage Institute), began partnering with UAA to offer employees pathways to teacher licensure through the Strategic Use of Nationally Registered Apprenticeships for Educators (SUNRAE) program.

Now, Kline is on track to graduate as SUNRAE's first licensed teacher this spring when she completes her post-baccalaureate certificate in early childhood education.

On-the-job learning and experience

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) designated teaching as an apprenticeable trade in 2022 and UAA's School of Education welcomed its first cohort in fall 2024. Like apprenticeships in other industries, the program combines structured, on-the-job learning and experience with academic coursework.

To qualify, apprentices must be accepted into a registered apprenticeship program and work with students in a school or childcare setting. From there, the model helps remove one of the biggest barriers to entering the profession: cost.

"Apprentices are financially supported throughout the entire journey," said Nicole Endsley, teacher apprenticeship and accreditation coordinator for UAA's School of Education. For each apprentice, sponsoring organizations cover tuition, books and other educational expenses, in addition to funding paid work experience with a partnering employer.

As of spring 2026, 18 school districts, tribal organizations and child care providers across Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ are participating in SUNRAE as employers, reflecting a statewide investment in homegrown educators.

An apprentice-centered approach

At the core of SUNRAE’s success is a four-layer support system that surrounds each apprentice. Mentor teachers provide day-to-day guidance in the classroom, modeling effective instruction and offering immediate feedback. Employers are invested in apprentices’ success, often checking in regularly and creating space for continued learning. Sponsors fund the program and maintain ongoing relationships with participants, while the university delivers instruction and individualized support.

Together, those layers create a level of structure and accountability that is difficult to replicate in traditional programs. Rather than navigating college on their own, apprentices have multiple points of contact to turn to for help, whether they need academic guidance, technical assistance or encouragement to keep going.

The program is also intentionally flexible. Course schedules are planned to respect subsistence and cultural activities. Apprentices can move at their own pace, taking as many or as few classes as their schedules allow, without the pressure of traditional financial aid requirements. All classes are offered online, often in the evenings. Many apprentices take courses through UAA's community campuses, with proving particularly popular.

Equally important is the emphasis on real-time application. Because apprentices are already working in classrooms, they can immediately put theory into practice — testing strategies, refining their approach and building confidence day by day. Instead of separating coursework from field experience, the model integrates the two.

The program also makes use of stackable pathways to meet students where they are, with options for apprentices at every stage of their educational journey. Apprentices without any prior college experience can start with an occupational endorsement certificate before continuing toward an associate or bachelor’s degree, each certification building to the next.

Life as an apprentice

Apprentices reflect the communities they serve, with the majority coming from rural villages. They range in age from 20 to 63, with the average age in the mid-30s. They are classroom aides, paraprofessionals and child care providers already embedded in schools, often balancing full-time work with family responsibilities.

Kline’s path reflects many of these shared experiences. By the time she discovered SUNRAE, she had already spent years working in schools and pursuing higher education in other fields. What made the difference was not just access to a degree program, but access to one that aligned with her life. She could continue working in the classroom, apply what she was learning in real time and move forward without taking on additional financial strain.

"I don't think I believed that I was in the program until I actually was on a plane to Anchorage [for orientation]," said Kline. "It was very surreal because it's not the path that you think you'll take to get to teaching."

As one of the first apprentices, Kline helped pilot a portfolio model for the seminar and internship component DOL requires for teacher certification. The model re-envisions traditional student teaching to make it more applicable to apprentices who have been doing on-the-job training for months, years or even decades. Kline's feedback has already helped fine-tune the model for future apprentices.

Kline's experience also highlights another defining feature of the apprenticeship model: connection. Through her mentor, colleagues and program staff, she built a network of support. Being able to ask any number of people for help has made Kline feel more comfortable "building a plane while flying it."

Building momentum

Though still relatively new, SUNRAE is already producing measurable results. Nine program participants have earned their . This spring, the program anticipates 12 OEC graduates, three associate graduates and one post-baccalaureate certificate graduate.

The momentum comes at a critical time as Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ continues to face shortages for qualified early childhood educators, particularly in rural areas. By preparing educators who already live in the communities they serve, the apprenticeship model helps build local capacity while reducing reliance on outside recruitment.

"This is how we sustain communities and ensure their future," said Tonia Dousay, dean and professor of UAA's School of Education. "Children deserve teachers who look like them and who will be there for more than a year. That's what SUNRAE gives Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æns."

For Kline, those broader impacts are reflected in a deeply personal milestone. Her oldest daughter recently began attending UAA in person. Walking across the stage with her in the crowd will be a full-circle moment for Kline.

"Even though it's 15 years later, I still accomplished what I set out to do when she was three years old," said Kline.