The first column in the table below describes some of the common obstacles that teaching candidates encounter when considering a career in education. The second column lists strategies that have been used to address these obstacles. Most of these strategies are described in this website's recruitment toolkit.
| Obstacles |
Strategies |
- Financial pressures
- Tuition costs and loan debt
- Temporary loss of job income
- Costs for exams
- Teacher pay too low
|
Publicize widely:
- Grants and scholarships
- Internships and residencies
- Evening credential programs
- Exam fee reimbursement
- Compensation packages incl. benefits
|
|
|
- Test prep workshops (in person and online) and tutoring
|
- Socio-cultural
- Absence of diversity in the teaching profession
- Absence of diversity in credential programs
|
- Develop diverse communities of practice with teaching prospects, credential students, and PK-12 mentors
|
- Employment concerns
- Won’t get hired in desired districts
- Will get laid off
|
Publicize widely:
- Local employment opportunities
- Employment opportunities and layoff trends
|
- Status
- Lack of respect from peers, family, media, and society
|
- Emphasize purpose-driven careers and the impact teaching has on individuals and communities
- Interact with PK-12 role models
- Invite parents to recruitment events
|