Dean Karen Riley Addresses Nationwide Teacher Shortage in DU Newsroom Q&A
According to research by the Economic Policy Institute, the teacher shortage “is real, large and growing, and worse than we thought.” If current trends persist, the nationwide shortfall of qualified teachers could reach 200,000 by 2025, up from 110,000 in 2018. In other words, it’s time to take it seriously. Karen Riley, dean of the University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education, fielded some questions about the shortage from the DU Newsroom.
Dean Riley goes on to answer the following:
- What is driving the nationwide teacher shortage?
- Where is the problem most acute?
- What does a teacher shortage mean for schools and their students?
- What can school districts do to retain both their young teaching professionals and their experienced teachers?
- What are the major ramifications for our communities if we don’t address this problem?