Syracuse summit to encourage young people and career-changers to 'take a look at teaching'

SYRACUSE, N.Y. October 23, 2018 – With the state facing a looming teacher shortage, the Syracuse Teachers Association and New York State United Teachers are launching the first in a series of summits to encourage students and career-changers to “take a look at teaching.”

The Syracuse Take a Look at Teaching Summit will engage teachers, high school and college students, state legislators, college professors and policymakers in a dialogue on how to inspire a new generation to become teachers and help diversify the profession. It will be held on Tuesday, October 30 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the offices of the Syracuse Teachers Association, 450 W. Kirkpatrick Street.

• About the Summit/TalkingPoints | Media Advisory | Capitol Pressroom Interview

Syracuse Teachers Association President Megan Root and NYSUT Executive Vice President Jolene DiBrango will lead a round-table discussion exploring questions and possible solutions to the looming shortage.

“We hope to have a deep, meaningful discussion with students and professionals about the challenges and rewards of teaching, and what the education community can do to spread the word that teachers make a difference in their communities,” DiBrango said.

DiBrango said New York is facing a looming teacher shortage – one that has already emerged in difficult-to-staff subject areas and high-needs districts.

DiBrango said enrollment in New York State’s teacher education programs has declined by 47 percent since 2009, even as the state Teacher Retirement System projects that one-third of New York teachers could retire in the next five years. Last year, SUNY projected that New York State will need 180,000 teachers in the next decade.

In addition, the education workforce across the country, as well as in New York State, does not reflect the diversity of its communities and student population. In New York, 43 percent of students are Hispanic/Latino or African-American, compared to 16 percent of the teacher population.

CONTACT

For more information on the event, contact Jeannine Badgley via email at jbadgley@nysutmail.org or call 800-342-9810 ext 6249.

New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.