HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has unveiled a redesigned version of its Teach in PA website, offering enhanced tools and streamlined navigation to assist individuals seeking a career in education. This initiative, part of the Shapiro Administration’s broader strategy to address the state’s teacher shortage, aims to attract and support aspiring educators across the Commonwealth.
The updated website introduces a simplified, user-friendly experience designed to meet potential educators at every stage of their career path. “We know that to build and sustain a robust, high-quality educator workforce, we need to meet people where they are—whether they’re in a high school classroom, post-baccalaureate, or contemplating a career switch,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. “Teach in PA is an easy-to-navigate, engaging new tool that we can add to our arsenal as we continue to make a case for choosing a career in education here in the Commonwealth.”
Features and Functionality
The Teach in PA website employs a “choose your own adventure” navigation framework, which allows users to tailor their experience based on their individual interests and qualifications. Visitors begin by selecting either “I want to teach” or “I’m interested in other education careers.” From there, the website guides users through customized pathways, factoring in variables such as educational background, certification status, and career aspirations.
Additionally, the site offers a comprehensive directory of current education-related job opportunities across Pennsylvania. These listings can be filtered by a variety of criteria, including geographic location, providing prospective educators with targeted results aligned to their preferences.
Addressing the Teacher Shortage
The revamped website is part of a larger effort by the Shapiro Administration to combat the ongoing educator shortage in Pennsylvania. Currently, the Commonwealth’s teacher workforce comprises 123,190 educators, with notable shortages in critical areas such as Grades 4-8, Special Education PK-12, Mathematics 7-12, Life & Physical Sciences 7-12, and Career and Technical Education 7-12.
The United States Department of Education has recognized these fields as high-need areas, underscoring the importance of Pennsylvania’s initiatives. Since the 2021-22 school year, the state has certified 1,524 new educators as part of its commitment to reversing the downward trend in teacher supply.
Broader Efforts by the Shapiro Administration
The launch of the revamped Teach in PA site complements additional measures by the Shapiro Administration to strengthen the educator talent pipeline. These include reducing teacher certification processing times by over ten weeks, waiving fees for intern certificates, creating new Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for high school students, and developing fast-track certification options for prospective special educators.
Furthermore, Pennsylvania has expanded its Student Teacher Support Program, which provides stipends to those completing student teaching programs, removing financial barriers for future educators.
Looking Ahead
By offering a customized, accessible avenue for individuals to explore teaching careers, the Teach in PA website exemplifies the state’s holistic approach to recruiting and retaining high-quality educators. With continued efforts to streamline services and support aspiring teachers, Pennsylvania is positioning itself to address staffing challenges while ensuring a quality education for learners across the state.
The Shapiro Administration’s commitment to education is reflected in the tools and resources deployed to fortify this essential workforce. As these initiatives take hold, the Commonwealth anticipates marked progress in stabilizing and growing its teaching profession for future generations.
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