ALEXANDRIA, Ind. A pre-apprenticeship program in Alexandria Community School Corporation is helping high school students get a head start on becoming teachers, while also addressing the nationwide teacher shortage.

At Alexandria-Monroe High School, students like senior Addison Bates are already working in classrooms with elementary school students. Bates, who comes from a family of educators, said teaching has always been her goal.

My mom, my grandma and my great-grandma were teachers, and Ive just been surrounded by it, Addison said.

Addison is part of the Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which grew out of a partnership with Indiana University Kokomo. The initiative, called Tomorrows Teachers, began more than five years ago to build a pipeline of future educators. It allows high s

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