Teacher Recruitment: School district offers resources for prospective teachers

Teacher Recruitment: School district offers resources for prospective teachers

CHAPIN, S.C. (HERE NEWS) — It’s never too late to learn something new, and that goes for people who are thinking of going back to school to become teachers. On Thursday, the Lexington-Richland 5 school district offered a place for folks being called to the classroom to figure out their path to making it a reality.

“As you know, there’s a shortage of teachers in South Carolina, so it’s important that we beef up that teacher pool and try to get more students interested in what teaching can offer you,” said Dr. Kim Neal, an Assistant Professor at Newberry College. According to the Center for Recruitment, Retention and Advancement (CERRA), South Carolina districts reported 1,613 vacancies at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.

While there’s a big need for educators to head up classrooms in the state, there was a big interest in doing just that. Folks came out to the Center for Advanced Technical Studies in Chapin on Thursday to learn how to become certified teachers. “A lot of times, we find that teachers, or even folks who are not teachers, find it very cumbersome to find ways to understand the information that may be online. This is the opportunity for them to have a one-on-one face-to-face conversation with those entities that can provide certifications,” said the district’s Director of Human Resources Dr. Reggie Wicker.

In that personalized setting, representatives from local colleges shared how prospective teachers can make their dream a reality. “There are so many different ways to get where you need to be. It’s one way that maybe you get your master’s, maybe you don’t have the money for a master’s, so you go online. There are so many different ways,” said prospective teacher Kierra Walker. “It’s a wonderful career, and you can do a lot with it. If you stick with it, you can change people’s futures and change children’s futures,” said Dr. Neal.

For individuals considering a career in teaching, events like these organized by school districts can be invaluable in providing guidance and resources. Whether pursuing a traditional path to certification or exploring alternative routes, the opportunity to engage directly with educational institutions can be a stepping stone towards fulfilling a passion for teaching.