The Education to Employment
Ecosystem: Utilizing Teacher
Prep as a Catalyst for Workforce
Development in Rowan County

Dr. Carol Spalding
President, Rowan-Cabarrus
Community College
Dr. Kelly Withers
Superintendent, Rowan-Salisbury
School System

Rowan County Education Collaborative Partners
Catawba College – Local 4-year Liberal Arts College
Livingstone College - Local HBCU
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Rowan County Commissioners
Rowan Economic Development
Rowan-Salisbury Schools (RSS)

Rowan County Education Collaborative
How can Rowan County create an agile talent framework that promotes
prosperity for businesses and residents?
Educational Attainment
Career-Ready Graduates
Work-Based Learning
Local Jobs for Graduates
Be an Education Community
Exceed National Rates of
Educational Attainment
Double the Number of Occupational
and Career Education Completers
Career-Focused Engagement
Opportunities for All Students
Increase Placement Rate of
Graduates with Rowan County
Employers
Leverage Rowan County’s
Community Assets to Foster a
Culture of Education

How can Rowan County create
an agile talent framework that
promotes prosperity for
businesses and residents?

Teacher Prep. Program Goals
Build strong and
affordable transfer
relationships to
facilitate timely
degree attainment
Create a pipeline
that will cultivate
qualified teachers
who represent
their counties (i.e.
more diversity)
Address
teacher
shortage

We saw a need. We found a solution.
The county’s largest
employer needs
additional workforce.

Logistics: Rowan County’s Teacher Education
Pipeline
Rowan-Salisbury School System: K-12
• Participate in courses by Catawba faculty to introduce
potential candidates to careers in teacher education
through Accelerate Rowan.
• Enroll in the Associate in Arts in Teacher Prep.
(ASTP)/Associate in Science in Teacher Prep. (ASTP)
program for Career & College Promise (CCP) students
(effective Fall 2023) and begin working toward an
associates degree in teacher preparation

Logistics: Rowan County’s Teacher Education
Pipeline
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
• Begin work on teacher preparation program in high
school through CCP courses
• Earn Associate of Arts or Associate of Science in Teacher
Preparation in two years
• Students can transfer up to 61 credits and fulfill general
education requirements at Catawba College

Logistics: Rowan County’s Teacher Education
Pipeline
Catawba College
• Begin with junior-standing and take Teacher Education
major courses immediately
• Pathways for Elementary, Special, and Middle School
Education majors, as well as Secondary Education
minors
• Take courses and participate in field experiences
through an apprenticeship program with Catawba
faculty and RSS Master Teachers

Logistics: Rowan County’s Teacher Education
Pipeline
Catawba College & Rowan-Salisbury Schools
• RSS Lab School: Accelerate Rowan
• Year-long paid junior internship
• Year-long paid student teaching experience
• Specialized training in Renewal District Model
• Graduate with BA in two years
• Eligible to seek licensure to teach in NC
• Qualified graduates receive signing bonus and
guaranteed teaching position in a RSS school.

Results
Rowan Accelerate Lab School
• 8 out of 10 Apprentices that completed the Lab School process
in 2022 are employed by Rowan-Salisbury Schools for the 2022-
2023 school year
• In 2022-2023 there were:
• 6 apprentices – receive $2,000/month during
apprenticeship
• 1 pre-apprentice – receive $500/month
• 9 Master Teachers – current RSS teachers who
supervise apprentices - $15,000/year

Results
• Spring 2022 – Rowan-Cabarrus began to offer the Associate in
Arts in Teacher Preparation and Associate in Science in Teacher
Preparation programs.
• Fall 2023 – Rowan-Cabarrus will begin offering CCP pathways
for high school students; thus, completing the final step in the
pipeline (high school to baccalaureate degree attainment).
Enrollment grew 209% ( from 11 total students to 34 total
students).
• May 2024 – First group of Rowan-Cabarrus Teacher Prep.
Graduates expected; Rowan-Cabarrus will serve transfer
students by mentoring them to the 15 UNC transfer options.

Looking Forward: Our Needs & Vision
• Increased marketing/education to prospective students (adults,
CCP)
• Articulation Agreement with Livingstone College, a local HBCU, is
in process with signing anticipated in Summer 2023
• Implement a lateral entry option (Spring 2024)
• Execution of the NC Educator Pipeline Collaborative MOU with
RSS, Rowan-Cabarrus, Catawba College and Winston-Salem State
University

Questions?