Where Did All the Teachers Go?
Here is How the Wayne Township Public Schools Is Addressing the Teacher Shortage.

Growing up, my teachers were my heroes. I learned from them, admired them, and wanted to be just like them. When my friends and I played with Barbies, I always wanted to be the teacher.

Shortly after entering the workforce, I decided to chase my childhood dream. I gave up my well-paying job and first career to get a master's in education. While my family was supportive, there was concern that I would not be gainfully employed after finishing my degree. I knew I would be a great teacher, but understood their concerns. There were so few vacancies in the teaching profession; any time there was an opening (especially in elementary education), there would be hundreds of resumes. Fortunately for me, things worked out, and after being a student teacher for four months without pay, I got my first job as a fourth-grade teacher in the Matawan-Aberdeen Schools. I was lucky to score an interview after applying for a job posting in the Star-Ledger — a shout-out to Pat Gossett, my amazing professor, who identified me for an interview. She later shared that she had over one hundred applicants for this single position, and she searched the voluminous pile, looking for names she recognized.

The tables have turned, and times have changed. Schools throughout New Jersey and the country need help to fill teacher vacancies. Some New Jersey districts have reported over 100 teaching vacancies. Children still consider their teachers their heroes. Teachers still share their passion for teaching and inspiring children. The curious minds that populate our classrooms still thirst for knowledge, but there needs to be more educators to teach our students, which is a huge problem. Filling special education teacher vacancies has become an even bigger challenge. We have created a culture where teachers are incentivized to change districts, knowing they are in demand, and this is a bargaining chip for a bigger paycheck. This is putting a considerable strain on our local district budgets. What does this say about the teaching profession? About the education we provide our students? How can we change this? We are all seeking creative ways to uphold the values of being an educator while addressing the teacher shortage, meeting the needs of our most vulnerable students, and providing a rigorous curriculum where students thrive, grow, and achieve.

In the Wayne Schools, staffing our special education programs is one area where we need the most help with. We strive to keep as many students in the District as possible but need the instructional staff to do this. We have been working hard to bolster our paraprofessional training and programs to leverage their support in the classroom. The contributions of the paraprofessionals in our classrooms have had a tremendous impact on our student growth and achievement. These dedicated professionals have earned their superhero capes through their amazing service, not their pay. 

There is a practical solution for addressing the teacher shortage, educating and credentialing our staff, and maintaining their presence in our schools.

In Wayne, we have been fortunate to catch the attention of a local university partner eager to support us with a District Goal to start a para-to-teacher program. Montclair State University offered a unique partnership with the United States Department of Labor to be a pilot district in a Teacher Certification Apprenticeship program. The apprenticeship program is designed to provide apprentices with real-time teaching experience in our classrooms while completing their bachelor’s degree and teacher certification requirements through an alternative route program without sacrificing their earnings as an employee of the school. There has been significant interest from our paraprofessionals and substitute teachers, many of whom already hold bachelor's degrees. This is a unique pathway that is attainable for anyone interested.

Wayne and Montclair State University have already held the first information session. They are working with interested staff to inform them of apprenticeship funding and other available resources to offset the cost of furthering their education to meet certification requirements. Many districts can use this model, and we hope to inspire others. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and learn more.