LANSING — Golden Apple, a non-profit committed to recruiting, preparing and supporting aspiring teachers, is now accepting applications for the third cohort of its Scholars program in Michigan.

The program seeks to provide a pathway for aspiring educators to enter the profession and build the teacher pipeline that will fill crucial open teaching positions across the state. Golden Apple welcomed its second cohort of 52 Michigan Scholars — a more than 50% increase from the previous year’s cohort — to the program earlier this year.

Targeted toward high school seniors and freshman and sophomore college students, the Scholars program is a program for aspiring educators that recruits and supports students who commit to earning an education degree and teaching license from a Michigan college or university and teach for five years in a Michigan school-of-need. Scholars receive up to $15,000 in paid summer professional development, extensive classroom teaching experience, academic and social-emotional support, job placement assistance and mentoring from outstanding teachers.

To learn more and apply, interested parties can go to www.goldenapple.org/scholars-michigan.

Michigan continues to face an ongoing teacher shortage, leading to classrooms lacking the effective, qualified educators students need. According to a January 2025 report from the Education Policy Innovation Collaborative, in the 2023-2024 school year, Michigan schools experienced nearly 2,500 teaching vacancies, which is significantly higher than the previous year and the highest rate of vacancies in over a decade.

“Our Scholars program is about building hope and opportunity–both for aspiring educators and for the students who will one day learn from them,” said Alicia Winckler, CEO of Golden Apple. “Michigan needs committed teachers now more than ever, and this program provides the training, mentoring and real-world experience that make the difference between simply entering the profession and thriving in it. We are proud to expand this opportunity so more Scholars can answer the call to teach.”

“Strengthening the teacher pipeline is critical to Michigan’s future, and the Scholars program is a powerful way to meet that challenge,” said Alan Mather, president of Golden Apple. “By investing early in future educators and walking alongside them from college through their first years in the classroom, Golden Apple ensures that students benefit from teachers who are not only well-prepared but deeply supported. This is how we change outcomes for kids and communities across the state.”

“The Scholars program is about more than preparing future teachers–it’s about investing in Michigan’s future,” said Caycee Sledge, Golden Apple Michigan chief program officer. “Every student deserves a classroom led by passionate, well-trained educators who reflect and understand the students they serve. By equipping Scholars with hands-on experience and unwavering support, we’re ensuring that they are ready to step into Michigan schools and make an immediate impact. I can’t wait to see how this next cohort will shape the future of education in Michigan.”