Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to my e-newsletter! I’m honored and humbled to serve as our community’s voice at the Capitol in Lansing. As we continue into the legislative term, rest assured that the challenges families in our community and state are facing are at the top of my legislative priorities.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by phone at (517) 373-0152 or email at AmosONeal@house.mi.gov if we can help.

Sincerely,

Amos O’Neal

State Representative, 95th House District

In this issue:

  • Upcoming Events
    • Community Conversation – Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.
  • Leadership Appointments – Caucus Chair
  • MDE Apprenticeships for Educators

Community Conversation – Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.

Please join us on Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. on Facebook Live for the last community conversation of the year! I will give a brief legislative update. Then, we will have a conversation about food security and maternal/infant health. Our special guest helping to discuss this crucial issue is Tina Swanton, Director of Program Development Michigan Health Improvement Alliance, Inc.

We hope to save some time for Q&A, so come with questions for our guests. You can join us on Facebook Live by clicking here or searching @StateRepAmosONeal. 

I hope to see you there!

Leadership Appointments – Caucus Chair

Speaker-elect Tate announced the members of the House of Representatives leadership team. I was so excited to be named as Democratic Caucus chair. After serving as vice chair of the Democratic Caucus, I am eager to continue on in this new position in the upcoming 102nd Legislature.

I am beyond grateful for this opportunity. With a lot of hard work and dedication, Democrats made change happen with the help and guidance of our leadership. Despite many obstacles, we found paths to success — it wasn’t easy, but we did it. That’s why I am so humbled by this appointment. I am looking forward to becoming an even greater part of the pursuit to uplift Democratic values. The upcoming legislative session is a new journey for all of us — new districts, new members, new leadership and new opportunities. I am committed to my responsibilities and duties toward a better future for Michigan.

MDE Apprenticeships for Educators

The Michigan Department of Education recently joined the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, nine school districts in Saginaw County, Saginaw Valley State University, and the U.S. Department of Labor to establish a registered apprenticeship program to develop highly skilled educators in Michigan.Registered apprenticeships are a new route for educators with a passion to serve children to master their craft while they work in the classroom and receive mentorship from veteran teachers.

The Saginaw Intermediate School District will work with Saginaw Valley State University and the following school districts to begin implementing the teacher apprenticeship program in Michigan:

  • Saginaw Public Schools
  • Saginaw Township Community Schools
  • Swan Valley School District
  • Merrill Community School District
  • Hemlock Public School District
  • Charles Community School District
  • Bridgeport Spaulding Community School District
  • Birch Run Area Schools
  • Saginaw ISD Head Start

Apprentices will need to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree, graduate from an educator preparation program, and pass a teacher certification test. Michigan’s registered apprenticeship program for educators will use a residency-based model targeting various pools of candidates:

  • Students interested in pursuing a state of Michigan teaching certificate.
  • Current school district support staff.
  • Current school district stakeholders, such as community volunteers.
  • Career changers.

Registered apprentices “earn while they learn,” meaning they take college coursework to become a teacher at the same time that they work in classrooms in a variety of roles, as they progress to the role and goal of classroom teacher. College courses are paid for by the employing school that can take advantage of a variety of federal, state and local funding streams to offset the employer’s costs. Wrap-around services are also provided to the apprentice as needed.

Michigan’s program is expected to have its first group of apprentices in the 2023-24 school year.