New AACTE InTouch Segment Shows How Community Partnerships Can Combat Teacher Shortage
Today, AACTE released the second video segment of the AACTE InTouch mini-documentary series, “How Community Partnerships Can Combat Teacher Shortage." Teacher shortages are a growing concern and while there are many causes, one emerging solution is to create a supportive and collaborative environment through sustainable partnerships.
The new video educates viewers on how university, school, and community partnerships aid in creating a robust pipeline and conditions critical to recruiting and retaining teachers. It addresses three important topics: why partnerships are important to preparing good teachers; what types of partnerships can support teaching; and examples of successful partnerships.
Several major factors are proven to influence a teacher’s decision to enter or remain in the teaching profession, both generally and specifically in high-need schools. Two of these factors are induction support for new teachers and positive working conditions, which can include school leadership, professional collaboration, shared decision making, and accountability.
“One of the most important things that teachers mention when they say whether they’re going to come or go in the profession,” says researcher Linda Darling-Hammond in her video interview, “is that it depends on the principal and the supports that they get and the extent to which they’re in a collaborative environment.”
The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Blue Ribbon Panel determined that in order to facilitate better resources, collaboration, and support for future educators, and to effectively reverse the teacher shortage, clinical practice should form the foundation of teacher preparation. AACTE member institution Ball State University (IN) is highlighted in the video for its innovative approach to clinical practice with a professional development school (PDS) model.
“The big difference is the community engagement. We’ve been part of PDS work for a long time. We have a number of professional development schools and so we’ve always emphasized the clinical practice part and the partnerships with schools,” says Pat Clark, chairperson of the department of elementary education at Ball State. “I think what hasn’t been emphasized as much, traditionally in our program or other teacher education programs, is the community piece—and having community members as partners in teacher education.”
View the full mini-documentary segment on the AACTE Video Wall. Feel free to use the video segment as part of your instruction in the classroom or at a faculty meeting, and share it by e-mail or on social media with your network!
Do you have an interesting topic idea for the AACTE InTouch mini-documentary series? Please feel free to contact me at jthurman@aacte.org.
Tags: AACTE online resources, school-university partnerships, shortage
