Messiah University partnership to address teacher shortage

Messiah University has launched two initiatives to address the teacher shortage in its region. 

The Mechanicsburg-based University said it is partnering with local school districts to encourage high school students to explore teaching as a career and offering teachers who hold a temporary emergency/intern certification to earn Level 1 state certification which is needed to teach long term through its Teacher Certification Initiative. 

The Educators for Tomorrow program, launching in fall 2024, encourages high school students to explore teaching as a career.  

 “We are excited to work with Messiah University as a partner in preparing individuals for a career in K-12 education,” said Mark Blanchard, superintendent of schools, Cumberland Valley School District. “Exposing current high school students to the field of education through the Educators for Tomorrow initiative is a critical step in showing them the opportunities available for meaningful work in an important field.” 

Blanchard added, “In addition, those who are considering education as a second career are often met with seemingly insurmountable barriers to certification, Messiah has created a high-quality affordable pathway for those individuals to pursue teaching as a real possibility. These efforts will make a difference in bringing highly qualified candidates into our classrooms.”  

High school juniors and seniors in the Educators for Tomorrow program will participate in a one-year cohort, starting each fall, which will include dual enrollment credits in education courses, special events hosted on Messiah’s campus by the Education Association of Messiah University and the Teacher Education Program, and assisting teachers in their schools. 

“Messiah is excited to launch Educators for Tomorrow this fall and collaborate with school districts to help cultivate the next generation of teachers in Pennsylvania,” said Rob Pepper, executive director and assistant to the president for innovation and university partnerships. “We’re encouraged by the early interest of local educators and students in this new program, and we’re pleased to build on Messiah’s reputation of graduating education majors who become committed teachers successfully serving students in our region and beyond.” 

Through its Teacher Certification Initiative, Messiah is partnering directly with local school districts to provide a streamlined initial Level I certification track for those individuals who are already teaching in their schools on a temporary emergency/intern teaching certificate. 

Districts can coordinate cohorts of emergency-certified teachers from their schools to complete their initial certification track in 18-24 months via online coursework from Messiah. This allows these teachers to continue working in the classroom while they pursue the certification they need to teach long term. 

“This initiative is an ideal, accessible solution for local school districts who want to equip their temporary emergency-certified teachers to pursue a longer-term career in teaching,” said Christina Simmons, director of Messiah University’s Graduate Program in Education.