Feedback from the Field: Supplemental Support for Non-Certified Educators
In the world of education, non-certified educators—such as substitute teachers, international teachers, paraprofessionals, and other support staff—play a crucial role in maintaining the continuity and quality of student learning. Despite their essential contributions, these educators often face unique challenges and lack the necessary support to thrive. This blog delves into the importance of supporting non-certified educators and explores effective strategies.
The Current Crisis
The education sector is grappling with a significant shortage of certified teachers, with around 36,000 vacant teaching positions nationwide. Arizona, for example, has over 9,600 unfilled teaching positions for the 2023-24 school year. This shortage places immense pressure on the existing workforce and forces schools to rely heavily on non-certified educators.
Traditional induction models typically cater to certified teachers, often neglecting the specific needs of non-certified educators. As a result, these educators may struggle to connect with students, lack confidence in their instructional abilities, and find it challenging to teach grade-level standards effectively. This can lead to high turnover rates and inconsistent educational experiences for students.
Insights from a Pilot Program
A pilot program conducted with 45 non-certified and new educators in the Littleton Elementary School District demonstrated the effectiveness of using scaffolds for adult learners. The program included workshops and feedback was collected through surveys. The results were promising:
Increased Teacher Engagement
Educators reported feeling more connected to their students and more invested in their roles. Marta shared, “These sessions are really helpful and improve my daily work.”
Boosted Confidence
Participants felt more confident in their instructional abilities and better prepared to teach grade-level standards. Hailey expressed, “I feel like a real teacher now!”
Enhanced Knowledge
Educators gained a deeper understanding of effective teaching strategies and curriculum delivery. Rayanne commented, “The workshop has helped me widen my thought process and the way I can understand lesson plans and acknowledge my students.” Lauren added, “I learned many new techniques to engage and connect with students. This is helping me grow into a stronger educator!”
These outcomes highlight the importance of providing targeted support to non-certified educators and suggest that similar programs could be beneficial in other districts facing teacher shortages.
Addressing the Challenges: Three Targeted Scaffolds
To effectively support non-certified educators, supplemental scaffolds can provide targetted support for adult learners to understand the foundations of effective teaching and learning. Here are three key strategies:
Connect: Building Connections with Students
Establishing strong relationships with students is fundamental to effective teaching. Non-certified educators can benefit from simple strategies and tools that help create a positive classroom environment and foster meaningful connections with their students.
Nestor appreciated the practical advice provided: “I loved all the information. I have a clear idea of how to better approach my emotional students.” Carlos found the strategies for managing classroom behavior particularly useful: “I have really loved the strategies to help us deal with different behavioral problems in the class.”
Empower: Enhancing Educator Self-Efficacy
Confidence is crucial for success in any profession, including education. Professional development sessions model how to use simple scaffolds to build the self-efficacy of non-certified educators.
Vanessa, one of the teachers who participated in the pilot program, highlighted the interactive nature of the training that modeled how to build engagement: “It was interactive and engaging for all teachers.” Similarly, Hector noted, “She teaches by using little chunks and has us participating so she can keep the class engaged.”
Teach: Teaching to Grade-Level Standards
Ensuring that non-certified educators can effectively teach to grade-level standards is essential for maintaining educational equity. Providing targeted scaffolds aligned to consistent learning strategies can help educators deliver the curriculum effectively and confidently.
Reflecting on the timeliness and relevance of the sessions, Juliette said, “This would have been really useful at the beginning of the year.” Gianina appreciated the practical relevance: “I appreciated that this session was intentionally related to what is happening in our schools.”
Moving Forward
Addressing the needs of non-certified educators is not only a matter of equity but also a crucial step in ensuring the overall effectiveness of our education system. By implementing tailored support systems, we can help educators feel more connected, confident, and capable in their roles.
For educational leaders and policymakers, it's important to recognize the significant contributions of non-certified educators and invest in their development. Schools can benefit from creating inclusive professional learning boosters that cater to all types of educators, ensuring everyone receives the support they need to succeed.
By focusing on building connections, enhancing self-efficacy, and teaching to grade-level standards, we can empower non-certified educators to make a meaningful impact on student learning and overall school effectiveness.
