Pennsylvania leaders push solutions to teacher shortage.

Education leaders, lawmakers, students and advocates from across Pennsylvania will gather at the state Capitol rotunda to call attention to the need for stronger investment in the state’s educator workforce.The Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium, the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators, and the Pennsylvania Council of Administrators of Special Education are hosting the press conference as part of Educator Workforce and Diversity Advocacy Day.Teachers and students are using this moment to urge lawmakers to fully fund the student teacher stipend program and take steps to hire more diverse educators across the commonwealth.At the core of the issue is a growing teacher shortage, along with a lack of diversity in Pennsylvania classrooms. Right now, about 94% of teachers in the state are white, while students of color make up close to 40% of the student population.Education leaders say that disconnect can impact student success, and they are calling on the state to step in and strengthen recruitment and retention efforts, especially for educators of color. “Unfortunately, aspiring teachers in their senior year have to decide whether or not they can meet their basic needs because they cannot work during their student teaching practice. And so, for a number of folks, that is a challenge because you are essentially unemployed for a year while you are becoming a student teacher,” said Dr. Tamara Willis, superintendent of Suquehanna Township School District.Organizers say they hope the advocacy day will push lawmakers toward long-term solutions to address both the teacher shortage and the lack of diversity in Pennsylvania classrooms.

HARRISBURG, Pa. —

Education leaders, lawmakers, students and advocates from across Pennsylvania will gather at the state Capitol rotunda to call attention to the need for stronger investment in the state’s educator workforce.

The Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium, the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators, and the Pennsylvania Council of Administrators of Special Education are hosting the press conference as part of Educator Workforce and Diversity Advocacy Day.

Teachers and students are using this moment to urge lawmakers to fully fund the student teacher stipend program and take steps to hire more diverse educators across the commonwealth.

At the core of the issue is a growing teacher shortage, along with a lack of diversity in Pennsylvania classrooms. Right now, about 94% of teachers in the state are white, while students of color make up close to 40% of the student population.

Education leaders say that disconnect can impact student success, and they are calling on the state to step in and strengthen recruitment and retention efforts, especially for educators of color.

“Unfortunately, aspiring teachers in their senior year have to decide whether or not they can meet their basic needs because they cannot work during their student teaching practice. And so, for a number of folks, that is a challenge because you are essentially unemployed for a year while you are becoming a student teacher,” said Dr. Tamara Willis, superintendent of Suquehanna Township School District.

Organizers say they hope the advocacy day will push lawmakers toward long-term solutions to address both the teacher shortage and the lack of diversity in Pennsylvania classrooms.