CT Opens 'Pipeline' To Help Fill K-12 Teacher Shortages

CONNECTICUT — The state hopes to plug some of the gaps in teacher coverage at the high school level with college students.

NextGen Educators, a new program announced by the Connecticut State Department of Education on Friday, will bring students seeking education degrees from Central Connecticut State University into the state's K-12 classrooms.

The program will place a special emphasis on attracting candidates from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, in line with CSDE's "commitment to increase the racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of Connecticut's educator workforce."

"In the short-term, it will help districts struggling to fill current staffing shortages meet their immediate needs and make connections with potential talent eager to contribute to student success," state Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona said. "In the long-term, it advances our goals of filling persistent shortage areas and building an educator workforce that reflects the full diversity of our students."

The number of minority educators in Connecticut’s schools has increased steadily since 2015, according to a news release from the CSDE. The agency's stated goal is to increase the number of educators of color from 8.3 percent in 2015-16 to 10 percent by 2021 (or, roughly 1,000 new certified educators of color by next year). In the 2019-20 school year, teachers of color represented 9.6 percent of the state's educator workforce.

"The concept for NextGen Educators has been in development for some time, but the pandemic really accelerated the need for more student and teacher support," said Kimberly Kostelis, dean of the CCSU School of Education and Professional Studies.

The program will assign a pair of NextGen Educators who will each provide two to three days of support per classroom. Unlike student teachers, the NextGen Educators will not earn credit for this program. Instead, school districts will agree upon an appropriate payment for their service.

The state is funding necessary background checks for the NextGen Educators. The districts will then determine how to best allocate these college students – from leading small group instruction under supervision and developing lesson plans, to facilitating the use of new technologies for online learning or providing personalized support for students.

"Creating a pipeline like this that encourages our college students to explore careers in K-12 education will not only increase the amount of talent in our schools, but it will also greatly enhance the diversity of those who teach within our school system," Gov. Ned Lamont said.

CSDE is providing each NextGen Educator with a professional mentor – an experienced educator who will share their knowledge and advice. The Black Leaders and Administrators Consortium and Committed to Achieve Latino Advancement and Supports are working with CSDE and CCSU to provide NextGen Educators with these mentors.

Pilot Program Live in Bristol Schools

The pilot program is underway in the Bristol Public Schools system, which includes six K-5 elementary schools and two K-8 schools. Last week, 18 NextGen Educators from the classes of 2022 and 2023 at CCSU began orientation. NextGen Educators will be supporting classrooms both in-person and virtually through the end of the 2020-2021 academic year.

"When CCSU and the State Department of Education approached us with this program, we knew immediately that it was something we wanted to pilot in our schools," Catherine Carbone, superintendent of Bristol Public Schools, said. "Not only are NextGen Educators providing immediate support to our teachers and students, but this partnership will be an additional path to establish relationships with preservice teachers and allow us to quickly fill needed teaching positions with candidates that know our expectations and embrace our community."