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Hoosier classrooms need instructors, and aspiring teachers need a clear path to one of the most important careers you can pursue. Alison Bell, Regional Vice President of Western Governors University, discusses problems in our teaching workforce and how WGU apprenticeships can help you take a bite out of Indiana’s teacher shortage.
Q: What is causing our teacher shortage?
Alison Bell: There are multiple factors contributing to Indiana’s teacher shortage. A primary factor is that teachers are simply aging out of the profession and retiring. Some of them are leaving earlier than expected for various reasons, most notably burnout, which ties to some of the other elements driving educators away from one of our country’s most noble professions. Working conditions matter. Educators are taking on larger class sizes with fewer resources, leading to an increased workload. Obviously, teachers aren’t immune to rising costs due to inflation. Competitive pay is a key factor. In Indiana, teacher salaries haven’t kept pace with inflation and are lower, on average, than in some surrounding states. Further, when you consider that teachers too often are paying to fund their classrooms out of their own pockets, the strain is even greater. The pipeline of new teachers is shrinking because of demographic shifts (fewer “traditional aged” college students) and fewer college students choosing teaching as a profession. Unfortunately, barriers to entry into the profession stop people from filling our classrooms. Traditional certification pathways can be expensive and often not flexible enough for those who want to switch careers. If we’re going to highlight the reasons for the teaching shortage it’s equally important to discuss solutions. Making sure the path to teaching is accessible, flexible and affordable is where that conversation begins.
Q: Are there certain subject areas or grade levels that are most in need of talent?
Alison Bell: Indiana schools report the greatest difficulty filling Early childhood, Elementary, English learner (ENL/ESL), STEM-related teaching roles, and Special Education. Special education across all grade levels is one of the most consistently high-need areas. It’s a massive need here in Indianapolis at one of our state’s largest public-school systems. Through a grant from the Department of Workforce Development, Indianapolis Public Schools will fund a teacher apprenticeship program where prospective teachers will enroll at WGU and earn their degrees and licenses in special education.
Q: How long have teacher apprenticeship programs been around and how do they work?
Alison Bell: Compared to traditional pathways at a four-year institution, apprenticeship programs, or “earn while you learn” models, are relatively new. The primary idea behind this is reducing the financial barriers that often discourage an individual from taking the step toward earning or finishing a degree and, ultimately, reaching their potential. The other benefit is the practical, classroom-based learning that is inherent in an apprenticeship pathway. We see this model in a lot of “grow your own” programs. Candidates are hired by the district and work alongside teachers in the classroom while simultaneously completing coursework toward their degree. In an apprenticeship, similar to a student-teaching stint, they take on more teaching responsibility and eventually earn their certification and licensing.
Q: What is unique/notable about WGU’s teacher apprenticeship program?
Alison Bell: WGU is already uniquely positioned because of our competency-based education and fully online model. We eliminate the required seat time in a classroom and allow our students to move through their degree at their own pace as they’re able to demonstrate competency. Our programs are designed specifically to meet state teaching certification requirements. The combination makes our programs attractive to working adults looking for a pathway into teaching. You can pursue your degree on your own time without having to sacrifice time in the classroom in your role as an apprentice, paraprofessional, or substitute teacher. This has proven to be especially desirable for those school districts that have grow-your-own programs in place.
Q: Is your path to becoming a teacher best suited for people just starting their career or mid-career changers?
Alison Bell: It’s designed to serve both, however we see that it tends to more often be someone in the process of shifting their career. Many WGU students working toward a teaching degree come from other industries and they’re often a student with some college but no degree, an individual who started their journey toward becoming a teacher, but life altered that plan in some fashion. We’ll see students who work full-time in other industries while pursuing a teaching degree. But where there are grow-your-own programs and apprenticeship pathways established we will often see students resign from the job they’re leaving behind to work and earn while they learn. This provides the opportunity to gain experience in the classroom while working toward their degree.