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King’s College today announced the launch of the King’s Teacher Apprenticeship Program (K-TAP), which addresses the growing teacher shortage in Northeastern Pennsylvania by connecting aspiring candidates with new financial and professional development resources. 

K-TAP prepares non-traditional candidates—including paraprofessionals, teacher aides, and career-changers with bachelor’s degrees—for full teacher certification in secondary education while earning a master’s degree. Apprentices will earn full-time salaries, along with free tuition, textbooks, fees, and a laptop. 

In June 2005, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration announced $7.76 million in new grants to expand the Certified Teacher Registered Apprentice (CTRA) program and counter a 67% decline in certified teachers in Pennsylvania over the past decade. 

As part of that initiative, King’s College was awarded $600,000 to train a cohort of 15 apprentices and support long-term workforce needs in local school districts over the next two years.

 K-TAP is being led by the King’s College Education Department, which is working in close partnership with the Scranton, Jim Thorpe, and Wallenpaupack Area School Districts, as well as the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and the Luzerne-Schuylkill and Lackawanna Workforce Development Boards. 

“Our goal is that by July 1, 2027, our first K-TAP cohort will be fully prepared for Pennsylvania Department of Education certification, having simultaneously earned their master’s degrees, strengthening our local educator pipeline, and creating opportunities for aspiring teachers to succeed where they are needed the most,” said Dara Soljaga, Ph.D., associate dean of education at King’s College. “We’re grateful to work with a collection of dedicated state and local partners who are all committed to ensuring every student in Northeastern Pennsylvania has access to a high-quality education.” 

Enrollees will complete 2,000 hours of on-the-job training over the course of the program, working directly with mentor teachers in PK-12 classrooms. They will also complete a blend of in-person and online coursework at King’s College, satisfying all secondary education certification requirements and earning a master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction with a concentration in Excellence in Teaching. 

Participants receive salary increases as their competencies advance, and mentor teachers will earn stipends for their contributions to apprentice development.

Apprentices, instructors, and mentors will participate in ongoing collaborative meetings focused on data analysis, training, reflection, and professional growth. Union and workforce development partners will also contribute practical guidance to help apprentices prepare for long-term career success. 

K-TAP partners are looking to have the first cohort of apprentices starting May 2026. Interested applicants are welcome to reach out to King’s CTRA grant coordinator, Nathan Gelb-Dyller at (570) 208-5900 ext. 5449 or nathangelb-dyller@kings.edu. 

Photo Caption: 

Back row (left to right): Dr. Jill Yurko, King’s College; Timothy A. Wolf, Scranton City School District; Dr. Robert Mauro, Pocono Counties Workforce Development Board; Nathan Gelb-Dyller, King’s College; Christine Jensen, Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Development Board; Dr. Dara Soljaga, King’s College; and Dr. Jay Starnes, Wallenpaupack Area School District.