ESU College of Education Program Tackles Teacher Shortage by Inspiring Future Educators

Hundreds of high school students visited East Stroudsburg University on Nov. 12 for an immersive learning experience designed to inspire and recruit future educators, address teacher shortages, and build connections between university faculty, staff, college student ambassadors, and high school students interested in education careers.

Organized by ESU’s College of Education, the Aspiring Educator Pathway Project (AEPP) On-Campus Experience featured rotating sessions led by ESU teacher candidates, professional mentors and College of Education faculty.

Students from eight area school districts – Delaware Valley, East Stroudsburg, Hanover, Pleasant Valley, Pocono Mountain, Scranton, Stroudsburg and Wallenpaupack – attended sessions focused on belonging, balance, creativity and wellbeing, idea generation and growth mindset.

After one team-building session that saw teams square off in a spirited game of tug-of-war, Scranton High School senior Paige Dougherty recognized the activity was about more than friendly competition: the cooperation and communication skills her team used to pull the rope as a cohesive unit were also essential to the career she plans to pursue.

“I knew that I wanted to be a teacher, but today really cemented it for me,” Dougherty said.

Providing opportunities for high school students like Dougherty to envision themselves as educators through the AEPP is not only helpful to them, it also addresses a critical need.

In recent years, Pennsylvania has grappled with a teacher shortage compounded by a shrinking pipeline of new educators, said Jay Kule, a longtime school counselor at East Stroudsburg Area School District and a returning participant in the AEPP On-Campus Experience.

“There’s not a replenishment of teachers who are leaving the field of education, so this is really one way to attack that shortage head-on and get young people into the field of education,” Kule said.

Regina Brotherton, a family and consumer sciences teacher at East Stroudsburg High School, has been in the field for over 20 years. She said programs like AEPP that expose students to education careers early can help them align their passions with career choices while building long-term support networks.

“We have seen that people spend their first few years in college and then find out maybe this career isn’t for them,” she said. “It’s nice to have something like this at the high school level that can help determine whether this is for you.”

For students in ESU’s College of Education like Connor Kiehl, the AEPP On-Campus Experience also plays a pivotal role in their growth.

“Being a part of this project brings out more inclusivity, more diversity and it helps me get to know these students on a more personal level – where they come from, their backgrounds and what motivates them,” Kiehl said.

A senior majoring in physical and health education, Kiehl was invited to participate in the program by one of his professors, quickly realizing how well it complimented his role as a student teacher, he said.

Moreover, as one of the ambassadors overseeing the tug-of-war games, he saw how a simple activity can bring students out of their shell, get them engaged, and encourage them to work together towards a goal.

“There’s so much that goes into education, and being even a small piece of education is the biggest blessing, in my eyes, that I’ve ever had,” he said.

Experiences like those of Kiehl, Dougherty and other participants signaled the program’s effectiveness in just a short time since its inception, said Brooke Langan, D.Ed., Dean of the College of Education.

“When we started this program, we had 50 students come to campus,” Langan said. “To see over 200 students here now just two years later, it really speaks to the impact of education.”

Learn more about the College of Education and the AEPP.

Search

Recent Posts