School districts across the state of Pennsylvania are suffering from a critical shortage of public school teachers.
It has been difficult for districts to attract teachers to the profession. Bob Scherrer, director of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, said, “Someone who gets a degree in computer science can make more money going to private industry than they can becoming a public school teacher.
Last week, panelists took part in the Western Pennsylvania Education Leadership Forum. The conference of school administrators met at Westmoreland County Community College.
The Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center has a program called Aspiring Educators, which the first panel spoke on at the conference. The program brings college-level education courses to high school students to help them complete post-secondary education at a faster rate.
Programs like Aspiring Educators are developed to bring more teachers to the area.
The second panel at the conference was focused on helping adult learners obtain their teaching certifications and retaining existing teachers within school districts.
At Point Park University, an educator residency program creates an easier path for paraeducators to gain the skills and certifications to become a teacher.
Associate professor Linda Hippert said that having “a para who may be interested in continuing on to get their teacher certification is a real advantage.”
A priority in Pennsylvania is to train and retain educators, as the state is facing a critical shortage that burdens school districts across the state.
Southmoreland Assistant Superintendent Dan Clara said, “I can’t say all the kids taking the course right now will be teachers. But if we got a couple who come back and apply because they know our system from their experience, that’s a good return on investment.”
