Kandice Williams and students

You may have once heard the quote, “Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions.” As we look toward celebrating the Future Teachers of America Day, which is celebrated annually on November 20th– it’s important that we pause and reflect on how we are empowering Kentucky’s future teacher workforce.

During a recent Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee, the Office of Education Accountability (OEA) presented on Kentucky Public School Employee Staffing Shortages. 

Some of the major conclusions from the report and presentation included:

  • The magnitude of shortages in Kentucky has increased and is reaching all schools and subjects.
  • Enrollment and teacher prep programs have declined.
  • Districts are resorting to hiring individuals who hold bachelor’s degrees and gaining emergency certification from EPSB when the District cannot find qualified teachers.
  • Emergency certificates have doubled in the last 3 years.
  • 1,500 fewer teacher candidates in the preparation program completing from 2018-2022 compared to 2015-2017.

OEA staff also shared areas where Kentucky is working to address the teacher shortage, including the teaching and learning career pathway, Nelson County’s Grow Your Own apprenticeship program, and the Option 9 alternative route to expedited teacher certification.

As we grapple with the reality of the teacher workforce and think about our future educators, we offer another added solution to empower the pipeline and remove barriers: paying student teachers during their practicum experience.

Kentucky’s traditional education routes do not allow student teachers to receive direct compensation for their time in the classroom teaching students – despite a growing body of research that associates the traditional pathway with better student outcomes. Student teachers that are in traditional pathways are required to do the work of a full-time educator without pay, whereas many alternative and emergency certifications can do the work of a full-time teacher and receive commensurate pay. 

States in Action for Student Teachers

There are states across the country recognizing how crucial this is for removing barriers for the teacher workforce pipeline. States that currently offer student-teacher stipend programs include Colorado, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. 

There are also innovations in Georgia that allow student teachers to have a “residency experience” where they receive half of the standard teaching salary – roughly $23,000 annually. Texas added an option to allow candidates to also be employed as certified aides while completing their clinical teaching experience. In Tennessee, there are also some pilots that allow student teachers to receive pay and receive significant training. 

States currently considering student-teacher pay include California and Maryland. It has also been recommended by Teacher and Superintendents Associations in Indiana and even Kentucky.

Kandice Williams, a recent graduate of Northern Kentucky University’s College of Education, shared that:

“Having a stipend during my student teaching placement would have given me the resources to live worry free from the stress of living expenses. During my student teaching I was unable to make any income due to the demands of my placement. This personally placed a lot of stress on me during that time when it came to my finances.”

Kentucky kids need classrooms supported by high-quality teachers, and educators need support as they train to join the workforce. No longer are the days where internships, clinical experiences, or practicum work should go unpaid – that experience does not pay the bills. If we want a stronger workforce, we must invest in those investing time with our kids. 

Join us in celebrating the Future Teachers of America Day – and instead of just holding a day of celebration and sharing social media posts in support, let’s celebrate by doing something about it!