Q&A
Special education teacher shortage and recruitment efforts
2:42:18
ยท
4 min
Council Member Rita Joseph inquired about the ongoing special education teacher shortage and recruitment efforts. DOE representatives provided the following information:
- The Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality supports teacher recruitment
- They offer various programs, including alternative certification programs and New York City Teaching Fellows
- Recruitment efforts include social media advertising, LinkedIn, hiring events, and university partnerships
- The application process timeline varies depending on the candidate's certification status
- Incentives include scholarships, tuition reimbursements, loan forgiveness, and placement assistance
- The DOE is considering revisiting housing stipends, depending on budget constraints
Rita Joseph expressed concern about the effectiveness of current recruitment efforts and emphasized the need for more aggressive strategies to ensure no child is left without a teacher. The DOE representatives acknowledged the challenges and stated they are continually working to improve their recruitment and retention efforts.
Rita Joseph
2:42:18
There's currently a shortage of special education teachers from the time I was an educator.
2:42:22
And I talked for 22 years, that's always been one of the biggest posters and we have to figure out that system and how do we make sure we're recruiting educators, to come and take these jobs.
2:42:34
I know you working with UFT, you can now change your licensing not to lose your tenure.
2:42:40
How is that going and how are you doing recruitment?
2:42:43
Because I I I am now on the other side and I'm still hearing there's a shortage there's a shortage in everything across the board.
2:42:50
What are we what are we doing as a system to make sure that we're meeting those needs in order for us not to have those?
UNKNOWN
2:43:03
Thank you.
2:43:05
So our office, the office of teacher recruitment and quality here, in the division of human resources for the DOE supports with teacher recruitment.
2:43:13
And so what we are doing to address those teacher recruitment needs is that our office, has various programs, alternative certification programs, New York City Teaching Fellows, for careers
Rita Joseph
2:43:27
You know, I know those programs.
2:43:28
Right?
Melinda Andra
2:43:28
Yes.
Rita Joseph
2:43:29
What are you doing to make sure we have teachers in the classroom?
2:43:31
That's my question.
2:43:33
I know about the programs.
2:43:34
I was I was I'm a forever educator.
2:43:36
22 years in, so I know the ins and out.
2:43:39
What are we doing to have teachers in front so no kid is left home?
2:43:43
We are the greatest city in the world.
2:43:45
Yes.
2:43:46
No child should be home.
2:43:48
Yes.
2:43:49
No child.
2:43:50
Have you seen the data?
2:43:51
Understood.
2:43:52
No child should be left home.
2:43:54
We don't leave children behind.
2:43:56
Mhmm.
2:43:56
We wanna make sure they're sitting in classrooms and learning and meeting the needs of these young people.
2:44:02
They're the next generation.
2:44:04
What are what are we gonna tell them?
UNKNOWN
2:44:06
And so we are working closely with our special education office, our law office, to understand what the need is to work with the state in terms of what that means for certification and address the needs in various programs to meet folks who are out there who may or may not have an interest in teaching.
2:44:26
Right?
2:44:26
And so that is career changers that are working closely with our IEG partners in terms of what that means for teacher preparation programs and recruitment of, potential, teaching candidates, to go into our classrooms.
Rita Joseph
2:44:41
What are what are the incentives for these shortage areas?
2:44:44
I know they used to have incentives.
2:44:45
There were scholarships, There were tuition reimbursements.
2:44:48
There were placements.
2:44:49
There were loan forgiveness.
2:44:50
What are we doing?
UNKNOWN
2:44:51
We're offering all of those things and continue to offer those things.
Rita Joseph
2:44:54
Where do you advertise it?
2:44:55
So I can see it because I don't see it.
2:44:57
Where are you advertising?
UNKNOWN
2:44:58
Yep.
2:44:58
So we do social media advertising.
2:45:00
We do LinkedIn, and we can, you know, provide even more details around where that is focused.
Rita Joseph
2:45:06
Are we doing hiring halls?
2:45:07
Are we entering universities?
UNKNOWN
2:45:10
All the time.
2:45:11
Right?
2:45:11
And we've just started that.
2:45:12
Our application for this school year has just opened approximately 2 weeks ago, but we do hiring events from now through the summer.
2:45:21
So August and even in September, right, when we have an understanding that there's still a need.
2:45:26
So events are happening.
Rita Joseph
2:45:28
And what's the timeline when you get a teacher?
2:45:32
From
UNKNOWN
2:45:33
application to the
Rita Joseph
2:45:33
end of the process.
UNKNOWN
2:45:36
Yep.
2:45:36
So the application process, I mean, that can vary.
2:45:39
Right?
2:45:40
It and that depends on where that candidate is in and how they are self reporting, where they are as in terms of becoming a teacher.
2:45:49
There are candidates who come into our teacher application, and they have their certification.
2:45:54
Right?
2:45:54
And so then that's about that teacher identifying the right district, the right, and the right school for him or her, and then what that means for the principal and their hiring managers to bring that teacher on.
2:46:08
So our office, while we are supporting with putting the folks in front of our principals, right, who have that need, then it is really the determination of that candidate and that principal's hiring process to get them on board as soon as possible to meet that need, that that open vacancy that they have in their school.
Rita Joseph
2:46:28
I know at one point you, New York City Public Schools used to offer housing stipend.
2:46:33
Is that something that's still on the table to recruit and retain that workforce?
UNKNOWN
2:46:36
I think that's something that we would need to revisit given our current climate with the budget.