BETHLEHEM, PA — Educator workforce challenges in small city school districts took center stage at a summit hosted today by the College of Education at Lehigh University, attracting Pennsylvania state legislators, Department of Education leaders, and a wide range of education experts for a detailed discussion on teacher policy, recruitment, and retention. The event, which featured panel discussions and research highlights, drew superintendents, school leaders, and board members from across the region for a conversation focused on practical solutions.
Acting Dean Robin Hojnoski shared in her opening remarks, “This is more than just a staffing problem; it’s a foundational challenge for our communities. Our education system is a central part of our economy, and our educators play a critical role in preparing the next generation.”
Brook Sawyer, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, emphasized Lehigh’s dedication to elevating statewide dialogue on educator workforce issues. The keynote was delivered by Dr. J. Cameron Anglum, a College of Education assistant professor with expertise in education policy, including an overview of his research in the teacher labor market. The teacher turnover rate –teachers leaving the teaching profession or transitioning to new school districts– increased in the state following the pandemic and has remained elevated, as teacher salaries have stagnated and recruitment challenges have become more acute.
Anglum stressed that early-career teachers, especially those within their first five years, are twice as likely to leave the profession as more experienced teachers, and every early departure represents a loss of future instructional expertise. “Retaining these educators is critical,” he noted. “If we want to improve outcomes, we need to ensure robust induction, mentoring, and compensation structures actually support all teachers, but especially teachers navigating the early stages of their careers.”
The summit’s panel, moderated by Dr. Craig Hochbein, Director of Lehigh University’s Educational Leadership Program, included Representatives Peter Schweyer and Milou Mackenzie—whose districts span both the urban and suburban Lehigh Valley—as well as Rick Levis, Chief Talent Officer at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Panelists discussed recently enacted legislation, including stipends for student teachers and “grow your own” pathways designed to bring local paraprofessionals into teaching, as well as targeted efforts to ease certification roadblocks for veterans and second-career educators. Schweyer, Democratic chair of the House Education Committee, consistently advocated for programs that combine immediate teaching experience with support: “We know we’re not going to add a thousand new teachers with one bill, but we can remove barriers—whether those are fees, bureaucratic delays, or rigid certification tracks—and make the profession more accessible to talented individuals,” he said.
Representative Mackenzie highlighted the cultural shifts affecting the teaching profession: “There’s been a decline in public perception of teachers. When I started out, it was a respected calling, but now we face skepticism. Legislation can help, but so can sustained campaigns to elevate and celebrate teachers’ public image,” she said. Mackenzie also emphasized the need for nuanced policy tools: “What works in Allentown may not work in rural districts or in the small suburban schools I represent. We need ongoing, local input from educators themselves.”
Rick Levis, speaking from the Department of Education’s perspective, emphasized the need for ongoing flexibility and responsiveness to educator needs: “If certification pathways are confusing or burdensome, we fix the process,” Levis said. “And we listen to the field—teachers, principals, superintendents—to identify obstacles and streamline where possible. Small changes—like allowing returning teachers to catch up on certification requirements or removing unnecessary tests—can make a big difference.”
The event also highlighted the interdisciplinary work of Lehigh’s Small Cities Lab, co-directed by professors Wes Hiatt and Dr. Karen Beck Pooley. Their remarks pointed to the unique challenges facing small cities in Pennsylvania—communities often overlooked in research that focuses on larger metropolitan areas. “Small city districts face workforce, housing, and economic development issues different from those of larger urban or purely rural regions,” Hiatt observed. “Our goal is to advance actionable research and concrete partnerships that genuinely move the needle for these districts and the surrounding communities.”
Anglum reaffirmed Lehigh’s commitment to addressing the educator workforce challenge: “As the federal government pulls back, the power and responsibility shift to state and local officials. Pennsylvania has the chance to lead—and Lehigh is eager to be part of that ongoing, collaborative effort,” he said.
The summit concluded with calls for stronger district-state-university partnerships and a shared understanding that sustainable solutions must come from ongoing, multi-voice dialogue—with both policy and practice in constant conversation.
About Lehigh University College of Education
Lehigh’s College of Education offers premier graduate-level programs focused on high-impact research, interdisciplinary applications, evidence-based practices, and partnerships at the local, national, and international levels.
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