Lipscomb University launches Foundations to Futures, an innovative workforce development apprenticeship program to strengthen early education teacher pipeline
Joe C. Davis Foundation supports program, bringing together early learning and charter school partners
Kim Chaudoin |
Lipscomb University has announced Foundations to Futures, a dual-impact teacher apprenticeship program to address workforce needs in early childhood education while providing a pathway for aspiring teachers seeking to earn a fully funded bachelor’s degree in P-3 early education. The apprenticeship program will create a pipeline of trained teachers to fill workforce needs at early childhood education centers across the state.
Through this program, students will work as apprentices in early childhood education programs gaining valuable hands-on experience while earning an undergraduate education degree at Lipscomb University. The program is a collaboration among the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE), the U.S. Department of Labor and the Joe C. Davis Foundation that removes financial barriers and creates a unique opportunity for students to graduate debt-free and with experience in the classroom. This new apprenticeship program also covers ancillary costs such as books, transportation, childcare and other expenses that could interrupt students’ progress toward licensure, giving teaching candidates in the program the opportunity to earn their degree for free. Pending approval by the Tennessee Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the program is projected to launch this fall.
Research highlights the critical importance of early childhood education in shaping future success. High-quality early childhood programs are linked to improved academic outcomes, better social-emotional development and long-term career achievement. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of the Administration for Children & Families Participating in ECE helps children to develop skills that will benefit them in school and in life. Specifically, research from the United States shows that ECE can help children learn the foundational skills for reading, math, self-control and positive relationships.
Leslie Cowell
However, a shortage of well-trained educators has created significant challenges in meeting the growing demand for highly trained early learning professionals. According to the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment (CSCCE), nationwide only 30 percent of center-based teaching staff hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
“From birth to age five, children experience an unparalleled period of brain development and learning. These formative years are critical for building the cognitive, emotional and social foundation that shapes their future success,” said Lipscomb President Candice McQueen. “By equipping early childhood educators with the skills and knowledge they need, we can profoundly impact generations of young learners and ensure they have the strongest start possible. We are grateful to the Joe C. Davis Foundation for its significant investment in this important work.”
Lipscomb University is a nationally recognized leader in teacher preparation. The Lipscomb College of Education is uniquely positioned to lead this initiative, under the leadership of Dean Leslie Cowell, who brings significant experience in early childhood education and serves as a member of the Nashville Early Childhood Coalition.
“Lipscomb is a hub for preparing educators to make an impact in early childhood education,” said Cowell. “We are excited to partner with local childcare programs and students at charter schools to develop future educators who will provide transformative learning experiences for children and families in our community The goal of this partnership is to build the early childhood education workforce. We want to ensure students not only gain the academic foundation they need but also real-world experience through apprenticeships that prepare them to excel as educators in early learning environments.”
The program also addresses the growing workforce needs in early childhood education. Angela Goddard, executive director of the Joe C. Davis Foundation, highlighted the initiative’s potential to strengthen the pipeline of qualified educators in the region.
“The Joe C. Davis Foundation is committed to supporting education at every level, from early childhood through high school graduation,” said Goddard. In 2022, the Davis Foundation launched Little Wonders Early Learning Center with the mission of providing high-quality early education to children of charter school teachers and staff. Today, Little Wonders operates three centers for students ages six weeks to five years embedded within charter schools: STEM Preparatory, Nashville Prep and Aventura Community School.
“This partnership reflects the Davis Foundation’s unwavering commitment to strategic collaboration in addressing the growing talent needs of early education.,” said Goddard. “By supporting this apprenticeship program, we are strengthening the pipeline of qualified educators for our early learning centers and charter schools. Our investment in these future teachers directly benefits children, families and the broader Nashville community. We are proud to partner with Lipscomb University’s College of Education, a premier teacher preparation program, Little Wonders Early Learning Center, and the Nashville Early Education Coalition to make this vision a reality,”
Little Wonders Early Learning Center will serve as Lipscomb’s first apprenticeship employer partner, providing apprentices with invaluable hands-on learning experience working with young children while they work toward their teaching degree.
“Our Center is dedicated to fostering a love of learning from the earliest stages of life,” said Zarabeth Davis, executive director of Little Wonders Early Learning Center. “This apprenticeship program is aligned with our mission to provide exceptional care and education while inspiring the next generation of teachers.”
For more information about this program, contact Leslie Cowell, dean of Lipscomb’s College of Education, at leslie.cowell [at] lipscomb.edu.
About Lipscomb University’s College of Education
Lipscomb University’s College of Education is consistently ranked as one of the most effective educator preparation programs in Tennessee and the nation. For 12 consecutive years, Tennessee Teacher Preparation Report Card data on the effectiveness of new Tennessee teachers indicates Lipscomb has one of the most effective teacher preparation programs in the state. In 2023 Lipscomb received a $4.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to train mental health professionals in high-need local education agencies (LEAs) in the Nashville area through its IMPACT (Innovative Mental Health Partnership Accessing Counselor Training) Initiative. In June 2023, it was named among the top in the nation by the National Council on Teacher Quality for preparing future teachers in the science of reading. Lipscomb has also developed a number of Grow Your Own partnerships in high-need disciplines and districts across Tennessee. For more information, visit www.lipscomb.edu/education.
About the Joe C. Davis Foundation
The Joe C. Davis Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 1976 in Nashville, TN. The philosophy and priorities of the Foundation reflect the life and accomplishments of its founder and benefactor, Joseph Columbus Davis Jr. The Foundation makes charitable contributions exemplifying the core values of Mr. Davis: the importance of personal initiative, perseverance, hard work, education and entrepreneurship. Visit JoeCDavisFoundation.org for more information.
Little Wonders Early Learning Center aims to deliver high-quality, child-centered early education and care to the children of Davidson county’s hard working educators. Through stimulating classroom and outdoor environments and responsive educator practices, we strive to foster children’s innate wonder, curiosity and brilliance, as together, they learn about the world around them. For more information, visit LittleWondersELC.com.
Photos: Getty Images, Kristi Jones