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KOKOMO, Ind. – Encompass Credit Union has pledged $100,000 over the next four years to support ������Ƶ Kokomo’s Paraprofessional Teaching Apprenticeship Program. This transformational gift will provide scholarships for paraprofessionals and instructional aides in Howard and Tipton counties, helping them overcome financial barriers on their journey to becoming licensed teachers.

This investment directly addresses Indiana's ongoing K-12 teacher shortage, where almost 10 percent of classroom teachers statewide are teaching on emergency licenses and nearly 1,200 teaching positions remain unfilled. ������Ƶ Kokomo’s apprenticeship program offers a pathway for paraprofessionals/teacher’s aides to become certified teachers while continuing to work in their local school districts.

“We are grateful to Encompass Credit Union for their generous support,” said Dr. Ethan Heicher, chancellor of ������Ƶ’s Kokomo Service Area.  “This partnership will enable more dedicated paraprofessionals to gain the skills and credentials they need to transition into full-time teaching roles, ensuring a brighter future for our K-12 students.”

The program, federally registered with the U.S. Department of Labor, combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Apprentices work full-time in classrooms, attend ������Ƶ classes after their school day, and progress toward earning their bachelor’s degree in education. During the two-year apprenticeship at ������Ƶ, participants gain more than 4,320 hours of classroom experience through their work in public schools and earn 30 college credits annually.

This initiative has already shown promise. The first cohort of 12 apprentices achieved an impressive average GPA of 3.74 out of 4 while earning ������Ƶ technical certificates in Elementary Education in their first year. They are on track to graduate in May with associate degrees in Elementary that will transfer to Western Governors University where they will pursue their bachelor’s degrees through online coursework.

However, for many of the students, financial barriers remain a significant challenge, with only 28 percent of the first cohort meeting the requirements for state or federal financial aid. The $100,000 commitment from Encompass Credit Union will fund scholarships of $1,250 per semester for 10 apprentices each year, empowering them to continue their educations while continuing to work in local classrooms.

“The contribution is part of Encompass Credit Union’s ongoing commitment to enhancing educational opportunities in the communities we serve,” said Matt Lambert, chief executive officer of Encompass Credit Union. “By offering financial assistance to local paraprofessionals, Encompass aims to empower them to transition into full-time teaching roles.”

Lambert said investing in education and community development is central to Encompass’s mission. The credit union previously supported ������Ƶ Kokomo’s “The Time is Now” campaign and each of the campus’s four renovated buildings includes a classroom named in honor of their contribution.

“������Ƶ Kokomo and Encompass Credit Union are working together to ensure that dedicated paraprofessionals and instructional aides have the resources they need to achieve their dreams of becoming certified educators,” Heicher said. “This collaboration will strengthen local schools, inspire future generations, and enhance the quality of education in the region.

Lambert was joined by ������Ƶ faculty and staff in announcing the donation Wednesday. Members of the first two cohorts of ������Ƶ Kokomo’s teaching apprenticeship program were on hand to share their experiences and thank Encompass for its support.

For apprentice Joe Coble, a teacher’s aide for alternative learners at Western Middle School, the paraprofessional apprenticeship program has been a chance to pursue his dream of becoming a teacher. After a career journey that included training and employment in auto repair, software development and over-the-road long-distance truck driving, Coble found his true love was teaching.

“In the classroom as a substitute teacher, I discovered a passion that I thought – because of the necessary commitment of time and money – I would never be able to live out,” Coble said. “I thought it was a pipedream that I could become a teacher, but this program has made it possible for me to seek out a new future.”

For more information about the program or partnership opportunities, contact Nick Capozzoli, executive director of Operations, Apprenticeships & Special Projects for ������Ƶ’s Kokomo Service Area, at ncapozzoli@ivytech.edu .