Students in the Sioux Falls School District are gaining hands-on classroom experience through a new paraprofessional apprenticeship program created in partnership with Dakota State University and the South Dakota Department of Labor.
The program gives high school students interested in education careers the opportunity to work directly in elementary and middle school classrooms as paid paraprofessional apprentices. Along the way, students can earn both high school and college credit while learning alongside experienced mentor teachers.
According to Renae Oines, a K-12 career counselor, the program helps students connect classroom learning with real-world experience in a meaningful way.
“They’re stepping into real classrooms, building relationships with students and teachers, and seeing firsthand what a future career in education can look like,” Oines said.
This program not only helps students explore future careers, but also gives them valuable professional experience and a strong foundation.
Learn more about the program here!