Franklin University School of Education Expands Its Statewide Impact as Ohio’s First University Approved as a Teacher Apprenticeship Sponsor

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

Franklin University’s School of Education, known for preparing practice-ready, mission-driven educators, has achieved a milestone that further elevates its leadership in educator preparation. Franklin has been approved by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services as the state’s first university to serve as a Teacher Apprenticeship Sponsor, expanding the momentum the School of Education has been building across Ohio.

This designation reflects years of purposeful work by Franklin’s faculty and leadership to create flexible, high-quality pathways that meet the realities of today’s classrooms. Franklin’s position as the only university in Ohio approved as a sponsor highlights the School of Education’s growing reputation for access, innovation, and quality. For years, Educational Service Centers have partnered with Franklin for related instruction, a clear sign of the trust districts place in the university’s educator-preparation expertise. Now, with full sponsor approval, that trust expands into a comprehensive, statewide apprenticeship pathway.

A Reflection of the School of Education’s Mission and Momentum
This approval is a natural extension of what Franklin University’s School of Education has always done best: meeting aspiring educators where they are and preparing them for meaningful, practice-ready careers. For years, Franklin’s faculty have designed programs that blend academic rigor with hands-on experience, creating pathways that support working adults, career changers, and paraprofessionals who want to become licensed teachers.

As an official Teacher Apprenticeship Sponsor, Franklin can now offer a fully aligned educator-preparation pathway that allows the University to:

• Approve school districts as signatory employers
• Seamlessly connect licensure coursework with paid, mentored classroom experience
• Oversee program compliance and ensure quality across every stage of the apprenticeship
• Support apprentices who are balancing work, family responsibilities, and professional growth

Together, these elements create a stronger, more accessible route into the teaching profession, one that reflects Franklin’s educator-first philosophy. By expanding access, reducing financial and logistical barriers, and integrating real-world classroom practice with university coursework, Franklin strengthens Ohio’s teacher pipeline and helps future educators gain the confidence and preparation they need to thrive on day one.

Helping Districts Grow Their Own, With Confidence
As Ohio districts embrace “grow your own” talent strategies, the School of Education is providing the structure, support, and expertise to make these pathways both accessible and sustainable. Franklin’s apprenticeship sponsorship empowers districts to:

• Elevate paraprofessionals, substitutes, and support staff into licensed teaching roles
• Retain individuals who already serve their communities with heart and dedication
• Remove the administrative burden of sponsorship
• Support apprentices financially through an earn-while-you-learn model

The School of Education hears from districts every day who are eager to “hire while they grow,” and from apprentices who share how transformative it feels to be supported both academically and professionally. These stories, from career changers to long-time district employees, demonstrate the powerful alignment between Franklin’s mission and Ohio’s workforce needs.

Where Academic Excellence Meets Real-World Readiness
Faculty within Franklin’s School of Education consistently champion teaching as both a calling and a profession. The apprenticeship pathway deepens this philosophy by ensuring that theory and practice reinforce one another.

Faculty are seeing:
• Higher levels of reflection and professional maturity
• Stronger links between coursework and classroom realities
• Apprentices who arrive prepared, confident, and committed
• Growth that is both academic and deeply personal

This is the School of Education’s expertise at work, blending evidence-based teaching methods with real-world classroom experience to prepare educators who understand students, communities, and the complexities of today’s learning environments.

Setting the Pace for the Future of Teacher Preparation
Franklin University’s approval as Ohio’s first university Teacher Apprenticeship Sponsor underscores the School of Education’s role in shaping the future of teacher preparation in the state. It reflects a model that is flexible, community-centered, and designed to support working adults. It offers districts a practical way to strengthen their educator pipelines, while modernizing the path into teaching without sacrificing quality.

“This approval is more than a milestone; it’s a celebration of the work our faculty and district partners have been doing for years,” said Dr. Brett Tozer, department chair, School of Education. “We are proud to help Ohio build a stronger, more sustainable teacher workforce, and honored to support each apprentice as they grow into the educators our communities need.”

With its reputation rising statewide and nationally, Franklin’s School of Education continues to set the standard for innovative, applied educator preparation.
To learn more about partnering with Franklin University’s School of Education visit: Franklin University School of Education or for information on enrolling in a teacher apprenticeship pathway, email edapprenticeships@franklin.edu.

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).