Wanted: Qualified Teachers
Top Teaching Areas in Demand

     
      By Dr. Kelley L. Costner

According to the National Center for Education Statistics’ Predicting the Need for Newly Hired Teachers in the U.S. to 2008-09, nationwide some 2.4 million teachers will be needed in the next 11 years because of teacher turnover, retirement, and rising student enrollment. Even more daunting is that the projection jumps to as high as 2.7 million when class size reduction efforts are taken in consideration.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), by 2014, the need for preschool teachers is projected to grow by 33 percent, kindergarten teachers by 22 percent, and elementary teachers by 18 percent. In addition, as more and more states begin to require licensure, it is imperative that individuals working in an early childhood setting have access to a convenient way to earn certification.
The demand for Early Childhood Education teachers also provides other professionals seeking to change careers and transition into teaching the opportunity to pursue licensure. The Early Childhood Education industry is an emerging market due to increased birth rates, more working mothers, universal Pre-K, and full-day kindergarten.  These factors are driving the need for more ECE teachers nationwide.
An even greater need is projected in the field of special education, triggering creative approaches to recruit, train, and retain special education teachers. Traditional sources of teacher supply have been unable to meet the growing demand of special education teachers. Hence, alternative routes to certification (ARC) have proliferated, yet the supply of accessible programs has not held up with the demand for more teachers. Special Education is a field with “severe, chronic” shortage of teachers.

According to BLS, employment of SPED teachers is expected to increase faster than average through 2012. A shortage of 200,000 teachers is projected over the next five years. 98 percent of school districts report a growing shortage and are seeking creative approaches to recruit, train, and retain SPED teachers. The SPED teacher shortage (highest in rural and urban areas) is driving districts to promote attractive packages including signing bonuses, housing, and in some cases, higher salaries than teaching positions.

Teachers to Represent the Populations They Teach
According to a study about the recruitment of new teachers, more than 40 percent of K-12 teachers are non-white, but the ratio of minority teachers continues to lag.  While the demand for teachers with math, science and special backgrounds has grown, recruitment efforts for ethnically and racially diverse educators continue to be a challenge.  Studies have shown that cultural and linguistic diversity can shape how students identify and adapt to various learning and language styles.  Further, exposing children to a diverse teaching staff allows children to thrive in an environment surrounded by educators that look like them, have similar cultural experiences and can act as a role model in an educational environment.

With a significant and growing multicultural student body, Walden has a proud tradition of providing diversity and access for adult learners. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, in its 2007 Top Graduate Degree Producers analysis, ranked Walden a top producer of master’s and doctorate minority graduates ,including Master’s of Education degree rankings of No. 5 for Total Minority, No. 6 for African American and Native American, No.7 for Asian-American, and No. 8 for Hispanic:

Walden University Responds to Teacher Shortage – Fosters Awareness

Walden University has a rich teacher education legacy and is committed to helping identify and prepare prospective teachers for a successful career through our teacher preparation programs. With more than 15,000 alumni and more than 14,000 currently enrolled, Walden University has the largest fully online College of Education in the nation.
Walden’s accelerated teacher preparation programs represent a national response to the urgent need for highly qualified early childhood and special education professionals. These innovative, targeted programs are consistent with our long-term mission of social change and will provide individuals with bachelor’s degrees in any academic area the opportunity to become a career educator in one of these essential P through 12 fields.
In January 2008, Walden will launch these online teacher preparation programs in a practical and accelerated format for students with a bachelor’s degree and a desire to provide strong foundations in the learning lives of today’s children and youths.  These programs allow working professionals to prepare for a career change while continuing to work full time.
Whether students are new to teaching or have years of classroom experience, or have made the important decision to switch careers and enter the rewarding profession or teaching, it is the responsibility of all higher education institutions to foster an environment that attracts quality and diverse educators.   

For more information on Walden’s teacher preparation programs, go to www.WaldenU.edu/teacherprep or call 866-492-5336.

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About Dr. Kelley L. Costner
Dr. Kelley L. Costner currently serves as the Associate Dean for the Master’s Programs and Teacher Preparation Programs in the College of Education at Walden University.  She previously served as the Faculty Chair for Mentoring and the Director of Research Studies for Walden University’s Ed.D. Programs.  Dr. Costner’s research interests include culturally responsive pedagogy, African-American learners, and teacher attitudes and beliefs.