CTE teachers play a vital role within MNPS and are integral to the sustainability of the Academies of Nashville structure. This committee recognizes that Nashville, like the rest of the country, is actively addressing a teaching shortage, especially in areas supporting special populations (e.g., English language learners and exceptional education students). This recommendation specifically targets CTE teaching roles to ensure MNPS can continue offering students access to career pathways that promote economic opportunity and growth both locally and beyond. A primary challenge is attracting industry professionals to teaching due to disparities in pay and the barriers non-traditional candidates face when entering the teaching profession. These challenges include mastering classroom management, understanding educational terminology, and navigating the complex licensure process.
To help address these issues, MNPS has created a role to support early career CTE teachers with classroom instruction. This role is crucial, but additional resources and guidance are still needed, particularly for non-traditional candidates navigating the licensure process—something that emerged as a recurring theme during the committee’s school visits. Without sufficient support, many talented teachers leave the profession or fail to meet certification requirements, leading to pathway closures in some high schools. As CTE teachers are critical to the success of the academies model and student achievement, a more systematic approach is needed to address these gaps and build a sustainable pipeline of CTE educators.
MNPS, with the support of business partners, should continue to build on the strong foundation of its process for recruiting and retaining CTE teachers. To better understand the complexities around teacher licensure and retention, a data-driven approach is essential. Collecting and analyzing data on certification pathways, teacher retention, and career plans will identify challenges and lead to improvement strategies. Surveys and focus groups can provide valuable insights into what is working and where improvements are needed. Analyzing this data can help create targeted programs to improve teacher satisfaction and retention.
An idea that emerged from the committee’s work is the creation of a certification user-guide that simplifies the process of becoming a certified teacher. This guide could be shared with professionals interested in teaching but intimidated by the process, helping to demystify the steps involved.
Lastly, business partners can play a crucial role in identifying potential candidates from the industry and helping to fill gaps by offering their own employees as part-time or full-time teaching staff. Additionally, partnerships could explore creative solutions to address the pay disparities, such as offering financial incentives or other support structures to attract industry professionals into the classroom. By putting additional supports in place, MNPS can create a system that attracts and retains skilled professionals in CTE teaching roles, ultimately providing students with better access to quality education in emerging fields and further preparing them for successful careers.
