Education Plan
Teacher Apprenticeship Program
The Western Slope needs great teachers. GCSI is building the pipeline — starting in high school.
A Critical Shortage on the Western Slope
Colorado's Western Slope faces a persistent and growing shortage of qualified teachers. Regional school districts — from Garfield Re-2 and Roaring Fork to Eagle County, Summit, and Steamboat Springs — report a steady need to hire new teachers every year. Elementary teachers alone represent 40–50% of all new hires across the Colorado Mountain College district.
Nationally, elementary school teaching positions grew 12% between 2012 and 2022, with nearly 47,000 projected annual job openings. In Colorado, that growth was even faster — up 20% over the same period, with nearly 1,000 new openings projected annually. The need is real, urgent, and local.
At GCSI, we believe the solution starts with esteeming and valuing our teachers — and inspiring the next generation of students to pursue education as a calling. That is why we are launching a Teacher Apprenticeship Program in partnership with Colorado Mountain College.
How the GCSI Teacher Apprenticeship Works
GCSI junior and senior students who are passionate about education can enroll in our Teacher Apprenticeship track. Students earn concurrent enrollment credits through Colorado Mountain College's Bachelor of Arts in Education program while serving as teacher apprentices inside GCSI's own classrooms — working alongside experienced mentor teachers from day one.
Earn College Credits in High School
Students earn CMC education credits through concurrent enrollment — getting a head start on a Bachelor of Arts in Education before they graduate high school.
Real Classroom Experience from Day One
Unlike programs where classroom exposure begins late, GCSI apprentices are placed in real classrooms from the start — learning alongside mentor teachers in a live school environment.
Earn While You Learn
CMC's registered teacher apprenticeship model provides students with compensation and hands-on experience while completing coursework — making the path to a teaching career both affordable and practical.
Stay and Serve the Western Slope
We are not just training teachers — we are cultivating locally rooted educators who know this community, love this region, and are committed to staying and making a difference here.
Proud partner in teacher preparation for the Western Slope
In Partnership with Colorado Mountain College
Colorado Mountain College's Bachelor of Arts in Education is nationally recognized for its innovative approach to teacher preparation. Developed in collaboration with school district partners, CMC's program was recently honored for its registered teacher apprenticeship model. CMC's braided funding initiatives — including grants, stipends, and scholarships specifically for rural Colorado educators — can cover the full cost of a degree, helping students graduate debt-free.
- Classroom placement from the first semester — not the last
- Strong emphasis on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Education
- Endorsement pathways: CLD, Bilingual, Early Childhood, Special Education, Mentor Teacher
- Braided funding — grants, stipends, and scholarships that can cover full tuition
- Alternative certification pathways for elementary and secondary
- Registered teacher apprenticeship — earn compensation while completing coursework
CMC Education Courses Available Through GCSI Concurrent Enrollment
GCSI junior and senior students in the Teacher Apprenticeship track can earn CMC college credits in the following Education (EDU) courses:
Regional Districts Actively Hiring
GCSI Teacher Apprenticeship graduates will be prepared to serve communities across the Western Slope and beyond:
TREP Program
Interested in becoming a teacher? TREP covers two years of tuition at CMC.
The Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation (TREP) program can pay for your first two years of classes at Colorado Mountain College. Qualified students in an educator career pathway stay enrolled in their school district, and concurrently enroll in college courses for up to two years after the 12th grade year.
A student is eligible for TREP if the student:
- Is following the teaching career pathway and is on schedule to complete one course in the teacher education pathway their 12th grade year.
- Is enrolling in the postsecondary courses identified in the teaching career pathway for the fifth and sixth years.
- Is college ready, and not in need of developmental education coursework in accordance with the education career pathway in which they enroll.
- Applies to, and is accepted into, Colorado Mountain College.
- Enters the TREP program in the year immediately following the student's 4th year of high school.
- Has been selected for participation by their high school principal or equivalent school administrator based on the above criteria.
- Upon entry to the TREP program, has not been designated a TREP program participant in any prior year (can only participate in TREP for 2 academic years).
- Is in good academic standing (minimum Grade Point Average of 2.0 in postsecondary coursework) and remains enrolled in an applicable educator pathway in order to participate in year 2 of the TREP program.
Questions?
Please contact your high school counselor for more information or contact CMC at [email protected].
Inspired to Teach? Start Here.
If you are a GCSI student with a passion for education, or a family who wants to learn more about the Teacher Apprenticeship track, reach out to Judy Brannberg to get started.