Pro Texana: Meeting the state's teacher shortage

Texas is not exempt from the nation's teacher shortage. According to the U.S. Department of Education, during the 2007-08 academic year, the state of Texas was in desperate need of teachers in fields ranging from chemistry, physics and math to speech disorders/speech pathology and special education.

Baylor's School of Education is trying new approaches to help prepare more teachers for the state's classrooms. In addition to training those who choose to major in education, the School is also partnering with departments across Baylor to allow students in other majors to pick up teaching credentials while still taking all of their major coursework.For example, a physics major can, in addition to receiving a 

Bachelor of Science degree, receive a minor in secondary education. By taking pedagogical courses in the School of Education, they become qualified to sit for the state teacher's licensure exam and become high school or middle school physics teachers.

The school is also working to facilitate more students from community college backgrounds who want to transfer to Baylor before their junior years. To catch up with other Baylor students who have already spent their first two years in the classroom, transfer students work in summer education programs.

And while Baylor's teacher education program is primarily focused on undergraduate students, the School also offers the Strickland Scholars Program for those who already hold a bachelor's degree in another area but want to become teachers.

Strickland Scholars complete two full semesters of intensive coursework, then take on a supervised internship for one academic year as the paid teacher of record in a public school classroom or complete one semester as a non-paid student teacher. Upon completion of the program, students receive a Masters of Science in Education with initial teacher certification in Texas

Recognizing that teacher pay is traditionally low, Baylor is also continually looking to help support education students through scholarships. The School of Education is investigating ways to secure forgivable loans for students willing to teach in high-needs fields or high-needs schools for a certain period of time. 

The good news for students going through the program? Even in an uncertain economy, there will always be a need for teachers. And Baylor will continue do its part to help meet that need.