INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Oct. 1, 2025) — Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) and MathTrack Institute have partnered to launch a national, credit-bearing teaching apprenticeship program designed to expand the K–12 teacher pipeline to address the nation’s persistent national teacher shortage, beginning in Indiana.
The apprenticeship program offers an accelerated and affordable pathway to an accredited degree and teaching license in early childhood, elementary, secondary, and special education. Together, the institutions aim to transform how people can professionally launch and grow their careers in education. Apprentices can earn up to 30 credits through classroom experience, with the remaining coursework completed online.
“MathTrack was founded to solve the national math teacher shortage, and partnering with IWU lets us scale apprenticeship models to multiple subject areas,” said Kevin Berkopes, CEO of MathTrack Institute.
According to the Learning Policy Institute, more than 400,000 teaching positions nationwide are filled by individuals not licensed in their subject area, with shortages most acute in math and special education. At the same time, more than 600,000 paraeducators without degrees are working in schools.
“Education transforms communities, and as a Christ-centered university, IWU is committed to equipping educators who will serve with both excellence and purpose,” said Chancellor of National and Global Eileen Hulme.
The initiative builds on two proven models: IWU’s “Para to Teacher” pathway, which has supported more than 800 educators in Texas and Indiana, and on MathTrack’s success licensing 25 new Indiana math teachers in the last 18 months. Together, the two institutions are already serving more than 1,000 educators nationwide.
“The apprenticeship model we employ works because it connects learning to real problem solving in the workplace,” said Andrew Salmon, president and co-founder of MathTrack Institute. “By combining our advantages with IWU’s, we can serve districts of every size throughout the U.S.”
The first apprenticeship program cohort is expected to launch in November 2025, with early partner districts already engaged. Educators, school administrators, and community stakeholders will be invited to upcoming informational sessions and training opportunities.
