Is there a shortage of teaching jobs or a shortage of teachers? The answer is both, depending on where you look.
A lack of teaching jobs or teachers varies state by state, but, on the national level, there’s a teacher shortfall fueled by a decline in enrollment in teacher preparation programs and high attrition rates in schools. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects nearly 1.9 million job openings in the field by 2024.
But teaching has gotten a bad rap over the last few years. Many students — and teachers — have grown frustrated by tougher training programs, higher student-loan debt, and salaries that haven’t kept up with inflation. Nazareth College is hoping to change that perspective. The college had planned a Careers in Education Conference for area high school students, but it was canceled due to inclement weather. We discuss the issues that would have been addressed at the event, including the future of the teaching profession. Our guests:
- Jeffrey Crane, superintendent of West Irondequoit Central School District
- Dr. Lesli Myers, superintendent of Brockport Central School District
- Laura Streeter, history teacher at Penfield High School, 2015 Nazareth College alumna
