Trending
BROOKFIELD -- The Brookfield Board of Education announced at a recent meeting that it is exploring a collaboration with a college to educate and train staff members.
The collaboration would be with Franklin University, which is located in Columbus and, according to its website, is Ohio's largest adult-focused university based on percent of student population over 25 years old. The collaboration would be through an apprenticeship program, according to Brookfield Locals Schools Superintendent Toby Gibson.
"Whoever we would get to be a part of it would work as an educational aide while they're taking classes at Franklin University," he said. "Part of their hours working would be applied to course work."
He said that someone who already is working as an aide at Brookfield Local Schools also could use this opportunity to become a teacher.
Gibson said the university offers online classes as well as in-person sessions.
"It's an opportunity for people in our community that want to become licensed teachers," he said. "(Franklin University) would provide the education (and) courses. The individuals would study while they're working as an aide and working with kids in the building."
Gibson said if someone already is working for Brookfield schools, he or she can apply to the university and the apprenticeship program.
This program, according to Gibson, could help with the shortage of teachers in the area.
"I think it's a way to help increase the number of teachers in the area or across the state," he said.
He said Franklin University "reached out to a number of school districts and decided to (do) a Zoom meeting," Gibson said.