Bound Brook School District is partnering with Rutgers University to support full-time classroom aides and paraprofessionals who want to become certified teachers in the district. The collaboration is funded through a $800,000 NJ Department of Education (DOE) grant to launch the New Jersey Teacher Apprenticeship Program in eight school districts across the state. 

“We are incredibly honored to continue growing our relationship with Rutgers University and to streamline the path for classroom aides and paraprofessionals in Bound Brook to earn their teaching certificates,” said Superintendent Dr. Alvin Freeman. “Bound Brook’s educational support professionals already contribute so much to our schools and students, and this grant provides them with the financial support and mentorship to advance their careers as educators.” 

The state DOE awarded Ramapo College and Rutgers University in New Brunswick $400,000 each to partner with eight school districts. Funding will be used to offset the costs associated with tuition, books and materials, mentorships, and structured on-the-job training. 

Chief Academic Officer Robyn Griffin said this opportunity is important to BBSD as schools across the state and country look for ways to recruit and retain K-12 teachers amid shortages. The program came from recommendations of the Task Force on Public School Staff Shortages in New Jersey. 

“We hope that one of the outcomes of this program will be a stronger and more diversified teaching staff in BBSD,” Griffin said. “Not everyone follows a traditional path to become a teacher, so this program provides the support and mentorship for our classroom aides and paraprofessionals to become teachers and play an even greater role in the lives of Bound Brook students.” 

Paraprofessionals in the program can typically earn their state teaching certification in two to four years, depending on their level of experience and education when beginning the program. The program targets fields disproportionately impacted by staff shortages, such as special education, science, math, English as a second language, and bilingual education.  

“We are excited to begin this work and to continue growing our relationship with Rutgers,” Griffin said. “This program stands to benefit many paraprofessionals and classroom aides in Bound Brook.”