If NC wants to attract more teachers, it must do these 5 things

About 800 K-12 teachers from across North Carolina gathered Aug. 2 at NC State University for a math summit. Energy in the building was high as teachers talked about how to best support students and learned new ideas to take back to classrooms.

As dean of NCSU’s College of Education, that inspiring day confirmed for me the viability and vibrancy of teaching — an important reminder at a time when the alarm is sounding regarding the teaching profession.

National studies show that teachers are dissatisfied, with only 12% saying they are very satisfied with their jobs. They’re leaving the profession — 44% said they are very/fairly likely to leave the profession within two years. In recent weeks, many N.C. schools have indicated they’ll reopen this fall with vacant teaching positions.

At a time like this, it falls on us to examine how to maintain a viable and vibrant teaching profession. A well-prepared workforce begins with strong pre-K-12 preparation. At NC State, we just graduated our largest cohort of teachers in at least five years, and we want to see that trend continue.

With all of that in mind, here are five ways to support the teaching profession beyond fair compensation:

Support high-quality teacher preparation programs. The data are clear that teachers from high-quality programs are successful and more likely to stay in the classroom. Thus, it’s important to increase the teacher pipeline without decreasing the rigor of teacher preparation programs. In addition to strengthening traditional programs, several universities, including NC State, offer hybrid or fully online programs, as well as alternative paths to licensure.

Remove the financial barriers into teaching. Teachers need to graduate from rigorous programs debt free or with clear debt forgiveness paths. While many teachers do not come into the profession seeking financial rewards, they need to be able to support their families. Removing financial barriers makes the profession more viable. At NC State, we have increased the number of scholarships available to future teachers. We’re also investing heavily in recruiting and supporting N.C. Teaching Fellows participants. This financial investment in future teachers is showing results: Enrollment in our teacher preparation programs is increasing.

Build strong professional teams within schools. A team of professionals is needed to promote student success: principals focused on learning, counselors who understand diverse students, instructional coaches who promote teacher learning, and more. NC State and other universities across the state have a comprehensive list of programs for many educational careers.

Treat teachers as professionals. Teachers have professional knowledge that needs to be valued. They are professionals who work beyond what is required, and their voices should be heard. Respecting teachers for the professionals they are is a necessary step to keep the profession vibrant.

Share the rewards this profession offers. Keeping teaching viable and vibrant takes all of us. We need to celebrate our teachers and the many rewards that come from this profession. Teaching is powerful. Teaching is transformational. Teachers play a role in shaping a productive future. When you see the light in a student’s eyes after they finally understand a new idea, or a smile when they feel valued, you might understand a fraction of the joy teaching can offer.

Paola Sztajn is Dean of the North Carolina State University College of Education.