New Wayne Schools Initiative Will Tackle Teacher Shortage

WAYNE, NJ — Wayne Township Schools will be the first in New Jersey to bring a new apprenticeship program into the classroom to address the teacher shortage, in a partnership with Montclair State University announced this week.

The Teacher Certification Apprenticeship Program is backed by the U.S. Department of Labor, and will create a pathway for paraprofessionals to complete their bachelor's degree and teacher certification while still working for the district. This initiative is slated to start next fall.

At the Oct. 19 school board meeting, Montclair State shared how the "Para-To-Teacher Pathway Pilot Program" will enable adult learners to complete their bachelor's degree through an alternate route program. View that presentation here.

Dozens of paraprofessionals and substitutes have expressed initial interest in the program, officials said.

“Finding solutions to large-scale problems like the national shortage of teachers will require outside-the-box thinking, and our partnership with Montclair State University is an example of what is needed to start solving it,” said Wayne Superintendent of Schools Mark Toback at a special ceremony Nov. 14. “We are thrilled to partner with Montclair to develop a unique solution to one of the most pressing problems in public education while supporting our employees in advancing their careers.”

The university's College for Education and Engaged Learning (CEEL) will oversee the certification program, and Montclair State will partner with school districts "to provide access and opportunities to the teaching profession for underrepresented populations."

The new program will be open to all New Jersey school districts, according to Montclair State. Teacher and staff shortages have become a common issue in New Jersey, as school districts struggle to recover from pandemic-related staff losses and a dwindling number of new teachers entering the workforce.