“It’s one of those relationships where all parties win,” Superintendent Dr. James Gray said, “and overall, our kids will benefit from it because we have better quality teachers.”
Jefferson Parish Schools, Louisiana’s largest K-12 district, has reduced teacher vacancies from over 150 last year to just 70 this year, reports Elyse Carmosino of NOLA.com. A major factor in this improvement is Reach University’s apprenticeship degree program, which allows current employees to transform their job into a degree and teaching credential.
The program gives current paraprofessionals like Amy Geronimo hands-on classroom experience from day one, while earning paraprofessional pay as she works toward a debt-free degree and career in teaching. Laura Roussel, Jefferson’s Chief Academic Officer, praised Reach’s “unique” program for its “accessibility and how well it prepares candidates to take on new teaching roles”: “An apprenticeship is a way to [hire new] educators who have experienced the climate and culture of this profession.”
By training candidates on the job from day one through graduation, the program reduces onboarding time for schools and ensures learners are familiar with schedules, procedures, programs, and the realities of the classroom.
“The primary difference between an apprenticeship degree and a typical teaching degree is that candidates spend more time in a real classroom and are paid a regular salary while they complete their on-the-job training, explained Nancy Suarez, principal of Bissonet Elementary School. Under Reach, participants can earn an early childhood educator certificate in one year, an associate’s degree in two years, or a bachelor’s degree in four years. They take classes at night and are trained in four core content areas: ELA, math, science, and social studies.”
Eddy Hoffman, a paraprofessional for nine years now training to become an English Language Teacher, highlighted the value of learning alongside familiar colleagues: “It made the learning experience more enriching. [Reach is] very supportive.”
As of summer 2025, more than 1,350 students are enrolled in Reach’s program across Louisiana, including 78 in Jefferson Parish, with the first graduates expected this year. Reach provides a flexible, affordable pathway to early childhood certificates, associate, or bachelor’s degrees — addressing local workforce needs while building a pipeline of qualified, representative, and job-ready teachers.
