Pennsylvania Western University has been awarded a $398,923 Supporting Certified Teacher Registered Apprenticeship (CTRA) Programs grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. 

The funding will fuel development of a statewide Deaf Education Apprenticeship Program designed to grow the pipeline of certified teachers of the deaf across the commonwealth. 

Led by Dr. Karen Wise Lindeman, professor of Early Childhood and Elementary Education at PennWest, the project pairs on-the-job training with university coursework to prepare apprentices for PreK-12 classrooms serving students who are deaf or hard of hearing. 

In addition to program start-up costs, the grant sets aside eight $30,000 scholarships that will be awarded directly to apprentices to offset tuition and fees. 

“Families, schools and service agencies across Pennsylvania struggle every year to hire qualified teachers of the deaf,” Lindeman said. “This apprenticeship removes financial and geographic barriers so more passionate educators can enter — and stay in — this high-need field.” 

Deaf Education at PennWest 

PennWest’s deaf education offerings are designed for individuals who want to create inclusive, accessible learning environments for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The university offers an 18-credit deaf studies minor, and a 30-credit certificate in deaf education will begin in fall 2025. 

The deaf education certificate program is ideal for current education majors and practicing teachers who would like to add teaching certification to work directly with children with hearing loss. The certificate, with flexible course work and face-to-face residency in the summer, will prepare educators with skills in communication, language development and self-advocacy. Students will gain expertise in American Sign Language, Deaf culture, inclusive classroom strategies, individualized education program development and more. 

The certificate will prepare teachers for in-demand roles such as:  

For more information about deaf education at PennWest, contact Dr. Karen Lindeman at klindeman@pennwest.edu.