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Meet Matthew Jacobson: Wisconsin’s first-ever teacher apprentice

If you would have told Matthew Jacobson several years ago that he would go on to become Wisconsin's first-ever teacher apprentice, there's no way he would have believed you. Though he had dreams of becoming a high school history teacher, just a few years ago, Jacobson struggled to find both happiness and his calling in life.

"Mentally, I was down in the dumps before this whole thing, and I had a lot of negative views on the rest of my life," Jacobson said. "I didn't feel fulfilled at all."

It wasn't until he learned about Wisconsin's pilot teacher apprenticeship program, and decided that apprenticeship was the right path for him, that he felt his life realign.

With no opportunity to return to college via the "traditional" route, which could take several years, Jacobson said the program gave him a different way of getting back into what he really wanted to do.

Recent estimates show only 67% of new educators in Wisconsin make it past five years in the field. Traditional educator preparation programs can be expensive, as they often require unpaid student teaching, which might not be feasible for low-income students, nontraditional students, or individuals looking to change careers.

"Being in this program, I feel much more fulfilled and better about the rest of my life," he said. "I feel like I'm actually making a difference and doing something good for the world."

The pilot teacher apprenticeship program is one of the newer additions to Wisconsin's Registered Apprenticeship system, helping to address issues in teacher turnover and retention, reduce barriers to entry, and encourage young people to enter the field. Launched in 2024 in partnership with the Department of Public Instruction. The program provides training for both elementary and middle school classroom instruction using the state's "earn-while-you-learn" apprenticeship structure and offers a path to a four-year degree from either UW-Whitewater at Rock County or Lakeland University. The pilot currently has eight apprentices at four school districts throughout the state.

These days, Jacobson not only feels the difference he's making in his students lives, but he also sees it. One of his roles at Elmbrook Elementary School in Brookfield, is to provide one-on-one support for Special Education students, including students with autism and other disabilities. Two of the classes he takes as part of his related learning experience as a student at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) are "Overview of Autism" and "Supporting Students with Disabilities." Matthew credits these courses with helping him to understand the importance of building curriculum into everyday activities for students.

"l always do my best to try and keep the students learning all day," said Jacobson.

He's noticed a payoff in his efforts, particularly with his younger students who thrive from the consistency and routine Matthew has helped to establish.

Others, like Carrie Perock, an instructor at WCTC, have also taken note of Matthew's professional growth and how well students have responded to him.

"Matthew is exactly the kind of future teacher we hope to see entering the profession," said Perock. "During his time in the Foundations of Teacher Education program at WCTC, he has shown dedication, compassion, and a willingness to learn."

These aren't the only classroom wins Jacobson has experienced since joining the program. He's also made major headway as a student himself at WCTC, where he'll graduate in May with his associate's degree in Foundations of Teacher Education. He'll then be at the official halfway point in his program and ready to begin his remaining two years at Lakeland University in Plymouth later in May, earning his bachelor's degree in elementary and middle school education.

While Jacobson is excited to begin the full-time program later this May, he says his time at WCTC helped to prepare him for just about anything under the sun when it comes to working with children.

Currently at Elmbrook, he works with various grade levels throughout the day, mostly in a support staff role for reading intervention. He also works in math extension, helping students who need more of a challenge. These roles have given him agency to think outside the box when it comes to student engagement and be more creative with his teaching delivery.

This fall, he'll join Pilgrim Park Middle School in Elm Grove as a teacher apprentice. He plans to get connected to the social studies department to do some teaching on related subjects.

"At Elmbrook, I had the opportunity to do a social studies lesson with 5th graders on the American Revolution," Jacobson said. "I've enjoyed learning more about these subjects on my own time and so teaching them has also been enjoyable."

He's proud of how far he's come in his program—and in life—and often takes time to reflect on the many lessons he's learned along the way. One standout lesson for him is how important it is to not be afraid to speak up and ask questions of people around him who may have more experience. Whether it's other teachers, or the school principal, Jacobson has learned how important it is to ask for suggestions on how to approach a situation or address a problem.

As his time at WCTC will come to an end, Perock says that watching his progress has been incredibly rewarding. "I am truly excited to see the positive difference [Matthew] will make in students' lives."

Jacobson encourages anyone interested in apprenticeship to take the chance and go for it, saying that in his experience, it's been a safer bet toward getting a degree and having a fulfilling professional life.

"The most important part of the apprenticeship is doing the job while you're doing the learning," Jacobson said. "That's why we do it, and I think at the end of the day, that's what matters most."

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