National Teacher of the Year has a brilliant plan to recruit more young teachers: Invite them
Leon Smith, the National Teacher of the Year, is confronting a critical decline in new teacher recruitment with a refreshingly simple strategy: invite young people to consider teaching as a career. Noticing a 70% drop in local students pursuing education degrees, Smith, a veteran educator with 25 years of experience, believes the key lies in actively engaging and inviting students to see teaching as a viable and impactful profession. By directly asking young people, "Have you ever thought about being a teacher?", Smith challenges the assumption that everyone understands the value and role of educators.
Smith's approach isn't just about filling vacancies; it's about reshaping perceptions and inspiring a new generation to see teaching as a means of effecting change. He leverages his own experiences as a Black educator, emphasizing the importance of diversity in teaching. By creating opportunities for teenagers to engage with younger students, Smith provides a glimpse of the profound impact they can have, aiming to reignite the passion for teaching as a noble and transformative pursuit.
Constructive analysis
The constructive-journalism lens: not just what happened, but what works.
- The problem
- The challenge is the significant decline in new educators entering the field, exacerbated by high burnout rates and a lack of diversity.
- The actions
- Smith actively invites young people to consider teaching, participates in policy-making, and engages students in activities that expose them to the teaching profession.
- Evidence of progress
- Smith has initiated programs where high school seniors interact with younger students, fostering connections that highlight the rewarding nature of teaching.
- What we can learn
- Other communities can replicate Smith's approach by actively inviting young people to explore teaching and creating pathways for them to experience the profession firsthand.
PERMA profile of this story
How this story scores across the PERMA dimensions.
- Positive Emotion
- 8
- Engagement
- 9
- Relationships
- 8
- Meaning
- 9
- Accomplishment
- 7
Character strengths in play
Top VIA strengths this story embodies.
Hope
Smith envisions a future where teaching is once again seen as a vital and respected profession, and actively works toward that vision by engaging the community.
Courage
He tackles the daunting challenge of teacher shortages head-on, advocating for change even when the statistics are discouraging.
Gratitude
Smith expresses deep appreciation for the teachers who came before him, acknowledging that he stands on their shoulders.
Kindness
By inviting students to consider teaching, Smith offers them a chance to discover the joy and fulfillment found in guiding and nurturing young minds.
Try this today
Consider a career you value and ask a young person in your life if they've ever thought about pursuing it. Share why you find it meaningful and invite them to explore it further, perhaps by shadowing someone in the field or discussing it over coffee.