The program breaks down barriers to teacher certification for talented paraprofessionals and teaching assistants already serving our students every day.
The Rhode Island College Teacher Apprenticeship Program reflects our district's commitment to "Grow Our Own" educators — creating pathways for talented staff members to earn teacher certification while continuing to work in our schools. By addressing financial and scheduling barriers, the program makes certification accessible for paraprofessionals and teaching assistants who might not otherwise have that opportunity.
JATC-Approved — Class of 2026
Michael Watson
Gina Silva
Lourdes Padilla
Nancy Rodriguez
Three of the four are bilingual in Spanish and English, two are Central Falls residents, and several have professional experience supporting multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Their backgrounds reflect the diversity and strengths of our community.
"By investing in our own employees, we're building a sustainable pipeline of highly qualified teachers who already know our students, understand our community, and are committed to staying in Central Falls."
Our first cohort has also made wonderful progress — successfully completing their first year in the program while continuing to serve students full time. They remain on track toward teacher certification and are gaining valuable classroom experience alongside their coursework.
This initiative strengthens our workforce while creating meaningful career advancement opportunities for the dedicated staff members who are already at the heart of our school community.
CF
Central Falls School District