ALBANY, N.Y. May 7, 2019 — With the state facing a looming teacher shortage, the New York State United Teachers on Wednesday, May 8, will hold the fifth in a series of summits aimed at improving workforce diversity and encouraging students and career-changers to take a look at teaching.
The Albany Take a Look at Teaching Summit will engage educators and legislators in a dialogue about how to inspire a new generation to become teachers and help diversify the profession. The summit will take place Wednesday from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in Meeting Room 6 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.
The summit will include a panel discussion featuring Albany Public School Teacher Association President Laura Franz, Albany City School District Superintendent Kaweeda Adams, Syracuse Teachers Association member Jessica Elliot, Dunkirk Teachers Association member Walt Robertson and United University Professions Vice President for Academics Jamie Dangler.
The discussion will explore questions about and possible solutions to the looming shortage, the need to diversify the teaching workforce, and NYSUT’s priority legislation that would help address both issues.
“We are excited to engage in meaningful discussions about the future of teaching because we know the rewards that come with helping our students achieve their full potential,” NYSUT Executive Vice President Jolene DiBrango said. “By addressing the looming teacher shortage head-on, we can ensure that we are attracting an array of talented professionals to our education system for years to come.”
Enrollment in New York’s teacher education programs has declined by 47 percent since 2009. At the same time, while 43 percent of students statewide are Hispanic/Latino or African-American, just 16 percent of the teachers are.
The state Teacher Retirement System projects that one-third of the state’s teachers could retire in the next five years. SUNY projects that New York will need 180,000 teachers in the next decade.