WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) -It’s a problem we are seeing across the country: teachers leaving the profession in return, leaving schools and students in a tough spot.
Kevin Taylor, assistant superintendent for Pender County Schools, says normally every July the county is working to fill 35-40 available teaching positions. He says fortunately this year that number is much lower, but things can always change.
“We’re not immune to the national crisis that has befallen the teaching profession in general,” said Taylor. “Math, science, and exceptional children’s teachers are still the hardest ones to fill,” he added.
But now, some help could be on the way. Pender County Schools has partnered with Cape Fear Community College and UNC Pembroke to foster more teachers who grew up in the area.
Brandon Guthrie, Vice President of Academic Affairs at CFCC, says the partnership sets a clear pathway for students.
Pender County high school students can enroll in the Associate Teacher Program at CFCC. Once they graduate, they can enter the Educator Preparation Program at UNC Pembroke and do a teaching residency at a Pender County School.
“Students who want to go into the teaching field are probably inspired by the teachers they had in that area and to follow in those footsteps in their community and give back to the community is probably rewarding for the student but also super rewarding for us to be able to facilitate that,” said Guthrie.
He says that students who enter into the Articulation Agreement between CFCC, UNC Pembroke, and Pender County Schools will be on the priority list for financial aid.
“It’s really a way to provide an additional career path for our students but also answer the community demand in Pender County because there is a need for qualified teachers,” said Guthrie.
However, more relief could be on the way statewide. The Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC) recommended that the State Board of Education remove an entry exam for those who want to become teachers.
The entry test is known as the Praxis Core exam. According to a representative from the State Board of Education, the test was waived during COVID-19 by the General Assembly and it led to a 35% increase for teachers enrolling in Educator Preparation Programs. When the waiver ended, enrollment decreased by 43%.
Kimberly Jones, member of PEPSC and 2023 Teacher of the Year, says removing the test would have long-term benefits to students and can lead to more teachers in the classrooms.
“The people who are supporting its removal just believe that it’s not an accurate outcome of our teacher’s success in the classroom, data shows that,” said Jones.
According to a spokesperson from the State Board of Education, the requirement to pass the Praxis Core exam is only for people who are following the traditional pathway toward getting their teaching license.
Jones says because the exam is only for people who follow the traditional pipeline, thousands of teachers in North Carolina have not taken the exam.
“I am a teacher in North Carolina Public Schools who did not have to take the Praxis,” said Jones. “There are outstanding young people prepared to be amazing teachers in our schools and an arbitrary requirement that costs them money every time they take it, that will have likely little to no outcome on either what they are teaching in many cases or their ability to do so well, shouldn’t stand,” she added.
The Praxis Core requirement is in legislation. The next step would be for the State Board of Education or others, to advocate this to the General Assembly with the hopes that they would take the recommendation and pass legislation to eliminate the Praxis Core, according to a spokesperson from the State Board of Education.
It’s all an effort to ensure North Carolina has enough teachers for students and school administrators are eager for any chance to fill their ranks.
“The only thing constant is change. We do the very best we can when those changes are given to us and that’s what we will keep on doing,” said Taylor.
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