AZTRAP Local Education Agencies
Role of the Local Education Agency (LEA)
The Local Education Agency employs apprentices, placing them in real-world classroom settings where they gain hands-on experiences that are essential for becoming effective teachers. AZTRAP allows LEAs to develop teachers from within their community and provide advancement opportunities to current staff members.
What does the LEA provide?
- Hire & Compensate Apprentices: The LEA should post positions to hire apprentices with the intent to provide them a competitive working wage.
- Provide a Journeyworker: Recognize your most accomplished teachers as journeyworkers to mentor the apprentices and provide them with guidance in the classroom.
- Immerse the Apprentice: The apprentice is considered an employee of the school and should be immersed into the school culture including all staff activities and opportunities.
- Work with Educator Prep Program: Work with Educator Prep Program to provide appropriate coursework that meets the needs of a full time employee.
Benefits for LEAs
- "Grow Your Own": Identify community members, staff members, and recent graduates who are crucial to your community's culture and grow them into educators.
- Career Advancement: Offer career advancement for current employees (paraprofessionals, coaches, etc.). Provide current staff members a no-cost opportunity to advance their career through AZTRAP.
- Sustainable Foundation: AZTRAP gives apprentices 2-4 years of classroom experience prior to becoming "Teacher of Record", providing them with a strong foundation to build their career upon.
Helpful Documents
AZTRAP Information Request Form
“I don’t know if I could have done this job without this training apprenticeship year. Being in the classroom from Day 1 to Day 180 has been incredibly impactful. Seeing the entire school year from start to finish, with a mentor who was accessible and supportive, made me feel confident and prepared to become a teacher of record.”
— Apprentice, Elementary Education
