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News Brief on
Grow Your Own Initiatives
March 2026
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The news brief on Grow Your Own (GYO) initiatives is disseminated monthly to share critical information across the state on our various GYO programs, as well as updates on other education-related news.
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 Continuum into Education Profession graphic shows apprenticeship transition from Youth, Para-to-Teacher, Lead Teacher to Principal.
From Students to School Leaders: North Dakota’s Continuum into the Education Profession
North Dakota has developed multiple Grow Your Own (GYO) programs aimed at building a continuum of pathways into the education profession.
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Youth Apprenticeship: Select students can participate in Educators Rising. In addition, students may take Dual Credit courses and earn a paraprofessional certificate while still in high school.
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Para-to-Teacher Programs: North Dakota offers a state-funded Para-to-Teacher Program (PTP) and a Registered Apprenticeship Program for Teachers (RAP-T).
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Lead Teacher Apprenticeship: The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) has worked with Arizona State University (ASU) and the Fargo Public School District to establish a Strategic Staffing/Lead Teacher program in three Fargo schools.
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Principal Apprenticeship: North Dakota’s Principal Apprenticeship Program is designed to support aspiring leaders as they work toward earning a master’s degree in educational leadership.
Apprentice Bobbie Egeland Shares His Journey to Becoming a Teacher
For many paraprofessionals in North Dakota, the path to becoming a licensed teacher can feel out of reach. For Bobbie Egeland, an apprentice in the University of Mary’s RAP‑T program, that journey has become a reality.
“Returning to school through the RAP-T has been a huge opportunity for me and my family,” Egeland said. “I have worked very hard for so many people and for so many years and have not been able to get very far financially. The opportunity to become a teacher and the supports I have been able to get from the program have been huge for me to be able to finally have a career. With that, the faculty at UMary has been so helpful in their guidance that has helped me grow into a better person. They have guided me into a better role model for the kids in my care–not only in education, but in athletics, and as a father, and a grandfather. I am truly loving what I am doing so far, and I would not be able to be a teacher if it were not for the program and the great faculty at UMary.”
Egeland’s experience reflects the core purpose of RAP‑T: opening doors for working professionals and preparing them for success in the classroom. This spring, he and his fellow apprentices completing degrees in Special Education and Elementary Education will be recognized at the University of Mary’s commencement ceremony, celebrating their dedication, growth, and entry into the teaching profession.
 Lead Teacher instructs students.
Lead Teacher Visit in Fargo Public Schools
North Dakota began exploring Strategic Staffing in fall 2022, with the Lead Teacher role serving as a cornerstone of the model.
To advance this work, NDDPI partnered with the National Center for Grow Your Own (NCGYO) and ASU to develop a Lead Teacher Apprenticeship application for submission to the U.S. Department of Labor. NDDPI received approval on Aug. 5, 2025, making North Dakota the first state in the nation to secure recognition for the Lead Teacher occupation.
Fargo Public Schools (FPS) proudly serves as the first pilot district for this Lead Teacher initiative. FPS’s participation demonstrates strong district-level commitment to strategic staffing, a willingness to innovate and lead nationally, and deep alignment among instruction, human capital systems, and student outcomes.
FPS’s experience will inform future iterations of the Lead Teacher program at both the state and national levels. The FPS Lead Teacher model represents a powerful shift toward intentional, team-based instructional leadership.
On Friday, March 6, 2026, Jefferson Elementary School hosted several visitors to see this work in action.
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ND Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Grant Educator Prep Program Opportunity
The ND CLIMBS grant, a North Dakota Award under the Federal CLSD program administered by NDDPI will release a partnership opportunity for EPPs working with an eligible Local Education Association (LEA) to strengthen alignment between educator‑preparation programs and school districts with a focus on literacy instruction at all levels, identify gaps in literacy preparation, enhance field experiences, and support mentoring through teachers’ first two years.
The grant opportunity will open March 16, 2026, with four awards available (two elementary and two secondary) for a three-year period. The application window will remain open for six weeks, with awards announced by late May. Details will be released on the ND CLIMBS webpage.
Openings Still Available in RAP-T Program
Led by NDDPI, North Dakota's RAP-T has grown from a single-district pilot to a statewide initiative involving 46 school districts. In partnership with six EPPs, RAP-T supports paraprofessionals in becoming licensed teachers through coursework, mentoring, and academic support.
A few spots remain for the upcoming term. Interested paraprofessionals should contact the following EPPs for details.
Valley City State University: 2 openings (Contact: Dr. Allen Burgad)
Certification Central: 5 openings (Contact: Dr. Lynne Chalmers)
 Save the Date: National Apprenticeship Week
The week of April 26 through May 2, 2026, is National Apprenticeship Week (NAW). The USDOL issued a press release announcing the inaugural spring National Apprenticeship Week (NAW). The theme for NAW 2026 is America at Work: Making America Skilled Again through Registered Apprenticeship. A NAW Promotional Mailer is available.
You are encouraged to visit the National Apprenticeship Week website and review the resources that are available.
 The Reading League Starts a Chapter in ND
The Reading League North Dakota (TRL‑ND) is encouraging educators and literacy advocates to join its statewide membership network. Members gain access to high‑quality professional learning aligned with the Science of Reading, collaboration opportunities with literacy leaders across the state, and both state and national newsletters.
Additional benefits include access to exclusive resources, field updates, and special perks at the ND Science of Reading Literacy Summit. TRL‑ND is seeking members who want to help advance evidence‑aligned reading instruction throughout North Dakota.
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USDOL to Visit North Dakota
NDDPI has received notification that staff from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) will conduct an onsite technical assistance visit to North Dakota in March. The purpose of the visit is to discuss the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) Base and Competitive grants awarded to NDDPI.
NDDPI will be highlighting the RAP-T as well as the Educator's Rising program, as both are funded with the SAEF grant. An agenda is available here.
EPP Quarterly Reporting Reminders
Educator Preparation Provider (EPPs) are reminded to complete key reporting tasks to maintain compliance and accurate data for USDOL reporting:
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End of Semester Report: EPPs will be requested to complete this report for data collection.
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Feedback Surveys: The insights from EPPs, districts and apprentices help evaluate program impact and guide improvements.
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RAPIDS Updates: Updated RAPIDS Excel sheets must be sent to NDDPI within 45 days of any changes (completers, withdrawals, new enrollments) to ensure accurate tracking and compliance.
Thank you for staying on top of these requirements—your efforts keep RAP-T running smoothly!
Genius Hour Empowers North Dakota’s Future Teachers
As part of its ongoing effort to strengthen the educator pipeline, the Genius Hour continues to support teacher apprentices across North Dakota. Now in its second year, this virtual mentoring series helps participants navigate licensure while balancing roles as paraprofessionals, aspiring teachers, and caregivers.
Facilitated by Dr. Becky Pitkin, Director of ESPB, the Genius Hour fosters collaboration, confidence, and connection—key ingredients for long-term success in the classroom.
Upcoming Genius Hour Session:
- April 13, 2026, 3:30 p.m. CDT
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Zoom Link, Passcode: 923071
Join the conversation, build your network, and grow your skills—one Genius Hour at a time.
Join the National Working Group on Teacher Retention
The NDDPI and ESPB are participating in the National Working Group on Teacher Retention, joining monthly collaborative calls facilitated by Upbeat, a K–12 education research organization.
They are now inviting anyone interested to join the next cohort of the National Working Group on Teacher Retention, launching in fall 2026.
To learn more or express interest, simply complete the “I’m Interested” form. An Upbeat professional will follow up with additional details about the upcoming working group.
Update on State PTP
On Thursday, March 5, 2026, NDDPI disseminated a memo to EPPs participating in the state PTP requesting that each EPP provide documentation of funds that are available to reallocate to PTP applicants currently on our waitlist. The memo can be accessed here.
NDDPI asks that each EPP submit their spreadsheet by the end of March.
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Two Potential Grant Opportunities for EPPs |
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We anticipate that the following federal grant opportunities will soon be issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for interested applicants:
Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program (TQP)
The TQP grant program aims to improve student achievement and the quality of new prospective teachers by enhancing the preparation of prospective teachers and professional development activities for new teachers.
Eligible applicants include universities in partnership with high need schools. Once the RFP is posted, it will be available here.
Supporting Effective Educator Development Grant Program (SEED)
The purpose of the SEED program is to increase the number of highly effective educators by supporting the implementation of Evidence-Based practices that prepare, develop or enhance the skills of educators. These grants will allow eligible applicants to develop, expand and evaluate practices that can serve as models to be sustained and disseminated.
Eligible applicants include universities and nonprofits. Once the RFP is posted, it will be available here.
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 Image of National Educator Shortage Summit
The National Educator Shortage Summit is being held on April 9-10, 2026, in Alexandria, Virginia.
The summit is a highly interactive gathering of PK-20 stakeholders, including PK-12 administrators, higher education leaders, state and local education agencies, and workforce partners.
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 Image of 97th NASDTEC Conference.
The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) annual conference is taking place on June 13-16, 2026. This year's conference will once again bring together educators, policymakers, preparation leaders, and partners from across the nation to engage in forward-thinking conversations that shape the future of educator preparation and licensure.
North Dakota has been asked to participate in a session sponsored by the NCGYO.
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Future Professional Development Opportunities |
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 State Apprenticeship Agency Spotlight on Mentoring
The NCGYO is sponsoring a webinar on March 17, 2026, at 3 p.m. EDT with leaders from Alabama, Arizona and Wisconsin. The webinar will explore what mentoring and evaluation practices from other occupations might strengthen teacher apprenticeship models.
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 Male teacher in classroom.
Webinar on How to Get More Men into Teaching
Join NCGYO on Monday, March 16, 2026 at 4 p.m. EDT to hear from Kurt Russell (2022 National Teacher of the Year), Russ Skubal (elementary principal in Arizona), Curtis Valentine (founder of Real Men Teach and Executive in Residence at the American Institute for Boys and Men) and Noah Stafursky (teacher apprentice in Nebraska) about how we can get more men into and staying in the teaching profession.
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QUESTIONS?
This monthly newsbrief is a collaborative partnership between NDDPI and the ESPB. Questions can be addressed to the following:
Laurie Matzke, Chief of Program Development & Growth, NDDPI
lmatzke@nd.gov at (701) 328-2284
Dr. Rebecca Pitkin, Executive Director, ESPB
rpitkin@nd.gov at (701) 328-9646
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