Anna Whitaker, of Mount Airy, has become the first youth apprentice to complete a K-12 Teacher Apprenticeship through Surry-Yadkin Works.
Whitaker, a 2022 North Surry High School graduate, completed an Associate in Arts degree at Surry Community College. Through the Surry-Yadkin Works program, Whitaker worked as a Teacher Aide apprentice with Surry County Schools.
Apprentices who have not yet turned 18 or are still in high school are often referred to as youth apprentices (or pre-apprentices). After the successful completion of a pre-apprenticeship, which may extend over multiple semesters, students may be invited by the employer to continue in a registered apprenticeship program.
Upon graduating from Surry Community College, Whitaker enrolled at Lees-McRae College. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and completed a K-12 Teacher Apprenticeship in May 2025. She will begin her teaching career as a full-time, second grade teacher for Surry County Schools at White Plains Elementary School.
Rachel Wilson, Director of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship Initiatives at Surry Community College, praises Whitaker. “We are so proud of Anna [Whitaker] and all her accomplishments! We know that she will enrich the lives of Surry County youth for years to come!”
Surry-Yadkin Works connects youth in Surry and Yadkin counties by means of pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships in high-demand fields throughout the region, providing meaningful employment opportunities.
For more information about Surry-Yadkin Works, contact Crystal Folger-Hawks, Surry-Yadkin Works Program Executive Director, at (336) 401-7820 or folger-hawksc@surry.edu or visit www.surryyadkinworks.org. You can also follow Surry-Yadkin Works on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.