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Crawford Co. R-1 School District

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Apprenticeship Pathway for Future Educators

Crawford County R-I Partners with ECC & CMU: Apprenticeship Pathway for Future Educators

Our district is proud to partner with East Central College (ECC) and Central Methodist University (CMU) to offer a clear pathway from high school to the classroom for those pursuing a career in education. The C3 Program is an innovative, apprenticeship-based pathway designed for dedicated school employees who are ready to accelerate their journey toward earning a bachelor’s degree and becoming certified teachers. Eligible participants must be full-time classroom employees within one of our C3 partner districts

  • Pre-Apprentice (Teacher Aide): For students 16+ enrolled in ECC dual credit or dual enrollment EDU courses.

  • Substitute/Para Certification: For individuals 18+ with a high school diploma pursuing substitute certification.

  • ECC Apprentice: For those working in a school while earning an Associate’s Degree in Education.

  • CMU Apprentice: For individuals completing a Bachelor’s Degree to become a certified teacher.

  • Final Step – Your Classroom: Program completion leads to full classroom employment.

This partnership creates a strong local teacher pipeline — helping students, graduates, and community members grow into the next generation of Warhawk educators.

To fill out ECC Interest Form click here

C3 Program Degree Options:
  • B.S. in Elementary Education (Grades 1–6)
  • B.S. in Early Childhood Education (Birth–Grade 3)
  • B.S. in Middle School Language Arts (Grades 5–9)
  • B.S. in Middle School Mathematics (Grades 5–9)
  • B.S. in Middle School Science (Grades 5–9)
  • B.S. in Middle School Social Science (Grades 5–9)
  • B.S. in Special Education (Grades K–12)
  • B.S. in Child Development (Launching Spring 2026!)
To further support professional growth across your district, all district employees -- whether they’ve participated in the C3 Program or not -- are now eligible for a discounted tuition rate on CMU’s Master of Education and Master of Educational Administration programs. Full details, including how employees can pursue this opportunity, can be found here: C3 Program Tuition Discount | Central Methodist University.