Texas in recent years has faced a crisis of teacher vacancies. Forced to replace faculty that left in response to the 2020 pandemic, low pay and a tense political climate, Texas schools relied on uncertified teachers to fill vacancies. But new research suggests those teachers are disproportionately unprepared, and the impact on student learning has been severe.
How can Texas recruit more highly trained teachers — and keep the ones it already has? What’s contributing to high turnover? And how do we define what makes an effective teacher?
Join us at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 6 at Raise Your Hand Texas in Austin or online for a two-part conversation on the critical challenges and opportunities surrounding teacher recruitment, training and retention in Texas. Lawmakers are considering giving teachers raises, incentivizing them to attain certification and placing new hiring requirements on school districts. Will that work? What else needs to be done?
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Moderated by Tribune education reporters Sneha Dey and Jaden Edison, we’ll hear from experts, policymakers, and education leaders as they share insights on building a stronger future for Texas schools.
Confirmed speakers include Kadence Carter, advocate, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT); Staci Childs, member, Texas State Board of Education, D-Houston District 4; Ryan Franklin, managing director for policy and advocacy, Philanthropy Advocates; and
Cara Malone, chief of schools, Hutto ISD. More speakers will be announced soon.
This event is eligible for Continuing Education Credits for educators through ATPE.
The event will include two 45-minute conversations (each with audience Q&A), the first focused on understanding the factors leading to the current challenges facing schools and the second focused on solutions. Â
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Parking will not be provided. Street and garage parking as well as ride-sharing are recommended.
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Coffee will be provided by The Texas Tribune.
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This in-person event will be simultaneously streamed for virtual attendees and will be available to watch on demand afterward at texastribune.org/events.
Email us at events@texastribune.org
The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
