Congratulations to this year’s Outstanding Registered Apprentice Award recipient; Kristina Mulhern, a Special Education Teacher Apprentice for the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU) at Pearl S. Buck! This award from the Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Office, a division of the Department of Labor and Industry, recognizes apprentices who demonstrate leadership, problem-solving, motivation, and a strong commitment to developing professional skills while completing a Pennsylvania Registered Apprenticeship Program and achieving journey worker status.
The awards, announced on March 1, were for the 2024–2025 Pennsylvania Registered Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Award Winners for Outstanding Sponsors and Apprentices. Winners were selected from apprenticeship programs spanning the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
“My experience with the Bucks IU has shaped me not only as an educator, but also as a person,” said Mulhern. “The encouragement, mentorship, and trust I have received have helped me grow in confidence and strengthened my commitment to serving my students with compassion and dedication. I’m grateful to the Bucks IU and my mentor, Special Education Teacher Jonathon Schmidt, for this opportunity and for inspiring me to continue to learn, flourish, and contribute my best every day.”
Registered Apprenticeships are paid positions in which employers provide on-the-job training, mentoring, and instruction over a multiyear period. The model allows participants to “earn while they learn,” gaining valuable skills and credentials while building a career pathway. Employers benefit by developing a well-trained workforce aligned with organizational needs.
While Registered Apprenticeships have long been associated with the building trades, programs in fields such as education are relatively new. The Bucks IU launched its first Registered Apprenticeship Program in 2018 and has since become a recognized leader in apprenticeship-based workforce development in education.
“For a teacher apprentice to win this award is truly remarkable, considering how new apprenticeship programs in education are compared with long-established fields like the building trades,” said Jennifer Rawson, Bucks IU Supervisor of Apprenticeship Programs. “Kristina’s dedication to the program, her colleagues, and the students she serves exemplifies the purpose of this initiative.”
The Bucks IU also received second place in the category of Outstanding Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor. This award recognizes organizations that demonstrate strong partnerships, contribute to building the apprenticeship ecosystem, and successfully train and develop employees through Registered Apprenticeship Programs. Sponsors are responsible for designing, registering, and administering programs in compliance with the standards established by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
The Bucks IU currently offers Registered Apprenticeship Programs for both post-baccalaureate and undergraduate Special Education Teachers and Registered Behavior Technicians. A Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Program is also available for Highly Qualified Teacher Aides.
“The Bucks IU is committed to supporting individuals who want to begin or advance a career in special education while ensuring that students across Bucks County receive high-quality educational services,” said Bucks IU Executive Director Dr. Mark Hoffman.
Looking ahead, the Bucks IU continues to expand its workforce development initiatives with two new apprenticeship programs in the early stages of development. The first is a Teacher of the Deaf Apprenticeship Program, being developed in partnership with PennWest University as the curriculum provider. The second is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Apprenticeship Program being developed in partnership with Bucks County Community College to help address school-based nursing shortages across Bucks County.
Supporting the Future of Apprenticeships
The Bucks IU is actively addressing staffing shortages through its Special Education Apprenticeship Pathway, which recruits, trains, and retains educators from within the local community. These programs have been supported through Bucks IU funding and grant resources.
Community members, businesses, and organizations now have the opportunity to support these efforts through tax-deductible donations made through the Bucks County Foundation. Contributions help expand the apprenticeship pathway and support the preparation of future special education professionals serving Bucks County students.
Donations may be made online at: BucksIU.net/DonateToApprenticeships. When donating, select ‘Special Education Teacher Apprenticeships – Bucks IU’ from the Special Purpose drop-down menu to direct your generosity to the correct program.
For more information on Bucks IU Apprenticeships or how to support the program, please contact Jennifer Rawson at JRawson@BucksIU.org.
