School districts continue to face a variety of staffing challenges. The School Pulse Panel survey released by the National Center for Education Statistics in August 2023 found that 45% of all public school respondents felt that their school was understaffed overall, while 79% reported difficulty in filling teaching positions with fully certified teachers, with the most common reasons being too few applicants (70%), and a lack of qualified candidates (66%).
Some studies estimate the current teacher shortage to be 55,000 vacant positions, with another 270,000 teaching posts currently filled by underqualified teachers.
A 2022 survey by NORC at the University of Chicago found that, fewer than one in five Americans (18%) would encourage a young person to become a K-12 teacher, citing low pay, lack of sufficient school resources, and a stressful work environment as primary reasons.
In the long term, initiatives are being taken at the federal, state, and district levels to improve the perception of the teaching profession, ensure teachers feel valued, and build alternative pathways to certification to help alleviate teacher shortages.
Creating positive marketing campaigns
The Biden Administration, in collaboration with several other organizations that strive to promote the teaching profession, developed a positive media campaign to help with the teacher shortage. The YouTube video Teachers: Leaders Shaping Lives shows real teachers using current technologies and instructional strategies in the classroom.
In a similar way, the leadership of Leon County Schools in Tallahassee, Florida worked with a marketing consulting firm to conduct a monthslong rebranding effort that included surveys and focus groups, both to better reflect the district’s mission and core values, and to recruit students and attract new teachers, given the unprecedented “competitive marketplace” the district operates in, according to Superintendent Rocky Hanna. “The dollars we are investing in this effort should yield a strong return in student and teacher retention and boost our brand perception throughout our community.”
Celebrating teachers
The “Teacher of the Year” (TOTY) program out of South Carolina “identifies, recognizes, and celebrates exceptional teachers.” In addition to offering accolades, this program also provides ongoing professional development opportunities to TOY winners. It shows them that they are valued, while also providing ongoing support and the freedom to pursue opportunities with the program’s partners. The Milken Educator Awards, considered the “Oscar” of education awards, takes this model a step farther and provides winning teachers with $25,000 of unrestricted awards.
In Indiana, the Teacher Appreciation Grants Policy awards stipends to selected, highly effective teachers, while a supplemental award grants stipends to teachers who serve as mentors to new teachers. In a letter to school districts, Rebecca Estes, Senior Director of Educator Talent in the DOE explains, “Teacher Appreciation Grant (TAG) eligibility requirements apply to all local educational agencies (LEAs), including school corporations as well as charter schools and virtual charter schools.”
At the district level, teacher of the year recognition in the Crosby Independent School District in Texas is more personal. Superintendent Paula Paterson has made sure to celebrate the district’s 2023-2024 teachers of the year throughout the school year. Paterson describes Crosby Middle School math teacher, Kevin Fontenot, and Barrett Elementary School 5th grade teacher, Diedre JohnBaptiste, as “highly creative educators who turn their classrooms into learning adventures.”
Establishing "Grow Your Own" programs
In Michigan, the state education department launched a series of initiatives, including its Grow Your Own program. Grants from Michigan’s program encourage existing school staff to seek pathways that earn them teacher certifications. In addition, current teachers can pursue additional education and other more advanced certifications and endorsements.
One district to receive the grant is Van Buren Intermediate School District, located in Lawrence. Cheryl-Marie Manson, Director of Instructional Services, helps manage the grant applications and coordinates the selection process. One beneficiary said, “I’ve had my career, but ultimately, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. It wouldn't be possible without the Grow Your Own program. I'd tried to figure out a way to make it happen on my own, but it seemed impossible while also having to support myself. GYO took care of everything.”
Embracing apprenticeships
An Apprenticeship Implementation Grant has been established by The Virginia Department of Education. In February, the department VA DOE granted Prince William County Public Schools $350,000 to fund their Grow Your Own Registered Teacher Apprenticeship program. Superintendent of Prince William County Public Schools LaTanya McDade told NOVA, “We aim to address teacher shortages and build a sustainable pipeline of passionate, talented and knowledgeable educators ready to make a difference in the lives of all our students.”
