Apprenticeship Navigator & Leadership Development Coach

Black Men Teach•St. Paul, MN

About The Position

The Apprenticeship Navigator & Leadership Development Coach is a shared, bridge-building role designed to ensure Black men in the Teacher Apprenticeship Minnesota program are retained, supported, affirmed, and developed as educators and leaders. This middle-level leadership role combines: Direct apprentice navigation, advocacy, and retention support Leadership coaching and culturally responsive professional learning Program representation, recruitment, and storytelling Deep partnership between Teacher Apprenticeship Minnesota and Black Men Teach By operating across both organizations, this role ensures Black Men Teach maintains a strong, ongoing presence in the apprenticeship ecosystem while strengthening apprentice persistence, leadership identity, and long-term success. While this is a shared, partnership-funded role, Black Men Teach maintains full supervisory responsibility, with Teacher Apprenticeship Minnesota serving as a strategic funding and programmatic partner.

Requirements

Experience as an educator and/or in educator preparation, apprenticeship, or alternative certification pathways.
Demonstrated success supporting Black educators or other historically underrepresented groups.
Strong coaching, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
Deep commitment to racial equity, anti-racist practice, and culturally responsive teaching.
Ability to navigate complex systems (districts, unions, higher ed, nonprofits) with credibility and care.
Comfortable operating in ambiguity and co-designing work across organizations.

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted navigator and advocate for Black men (and select other apprentices, as appropriate) enrolled in Teacher Apprenticeship Minnesota.
Provide individual coaching and check-ins focused on: Navigating school and district culture Identity, belonging, and racialized workplace dynamics Professional growth, confidence, and instructional practice
Support apprentices experiencing unsupportive or hostile environments, partnering with Teacher Apprenticeship Minnesota staff, district leaders, mentors, and supervisors as needed.
Track apprentice engagement, progress, and risk indicators; intervene early to prevent attrition.
Design and facilitate cohort-based professional learning experiences grounded in: Anti-racist and culturally responsive teaching Leadership identity development for Black male educators Classroom presence, communication, and influence
Integrate BMT’s leadership and brotherhood model into apprenticeship-aligned programming.
Serve as a connector between apprentices and Black Men Teach programming, fellow networks, and leadership opportunities.
Collaborate with course faculty, mentors, field supervisors, and instructional coaches to ensure apprentices receive coherent, high-quality support.
Serve as a thought partner on: Course design and refinement Field-based learning experiences Feedback and continuous improvement systems
Support data collection, reflection, and reporting related to apprentice experience and outcomes.
Support recruitment of new apprentices, with an emphasis on Black men and candidates of color.
Partner with: School districts Community-based organizations (e.g., Freedom Schools) Higher education partners
Assist with outreach, info sessions, and relationship-building to grow the pipeline.
Help identify future apprenticeship sites and supportive placement environments.
Represent Teacher Apprenticeship Minnesota and Black Men Teach locally and nationally.
Present at conferences, convenings, and funder briefings.
Support storytelling efforts that lift up apprentice voices, program impact, and lessons learned.
Serve as a visible advocate for culturally responsive, equity-centered teacher preparation.