Just Imagination Blog

In a recent blog post, we focused on why teacher burnout is happening and how education leaders can work toward better retention rates. Which begs the question: why become a teacher now, during a time of challenges? As we said in our recent blog post, if there is an upside to the teacher turnover problem, it’s that many of the causes are addressable. Schools and organizations are focusing on mentorship, building positive workplace environments, providing growth opportunities for teachers, and beginning to listen to teachers’ needs. 

Teachers are Optimistic About the Future of Education

In an article for Education Week, some award-winning teachers highlighted a few ways teachers are optimistic about education: 

• One teacher pointed to the clear sense of unity among teachers, “coming together to collaborate in ways that keep us in the classroom and keep us working for kids.”
• Another noted that she has found really deep and personalized ways to connect with individual students: “how to make all students feel like they have a voice in the classroom,” she said.
• One teacher said it was collaboration, teachers continuing to put their “heads together to create a common goal for our voices to be heard, for teachers to be seen.”
• In another article, teachers and education experts noted an exciting renewed emphasis on culturally responsive teaching, restorative practices, and bringing social-emotional learning into classroom practice. Our recent infographic focuses on how future teachers can prioritize mental, emotional, and physical health.

For future teachers, this shows an environment of united, collaborative teachers and other education professionals ready to shape their schools and districts in innovative ways. 

Additional Funding and Changing Education Policies to Attract Teachers

From a policy perspective, national education policy has increased funding and provided relief opportunities to schools and teachers. Of the $122 billion in funding provided to schools through the American Rescue Plan during COVID, an overwhelming majority of funds were used for teachers, counselors, academic recovery, and mental health. The Ohio Department of Education lists a number of funding and policy opportunities for those seeking to become teachers and stay teachers. 

Furthermore, those seeking to become teachers at present are met with various grant, scholarship, and student loan forgiveness opportunities, such as the federal TEACH grant, among others. While no policy is without room for growth, these show a developing understanding in investing in future and current teachers.

Become a Teacher

A graduate education degree from John Carroll University prepare teachers for licensure, as well as advanced certifications and specializations. Coursework includes an innovative understanding of not just today’s education environment but one for the future that could help shape policy and positive teacher – and student – outcomes.