Discussing the Teacher Shortage

In October 2015, 78 education leaders from across Utah  convened at Weber State for the Utah Council of Education  Deans’ annual conference, where they examined the state and nation’s teacher shortage.

Attendees discussed a number of challenges facing the teaching profession, including heavy workloads, politicized environments, high-stakes testing and challenging student behaviors. They also brainstormed ways to combat misperceptions about the profession and considered different methods of recruiting and retaining teachers, such as introducing high school students to the profession earlier in their education.

“The issues discussed at the conference weigh on the minds of deans of education across our state,” said Jack Rasmussen, dean of WSU’s Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education. “We want prospective educators in Utah to know that education is a rewarding professional career.”