By Dr Laura Barrett
Educators throughout the panhandle have been welcoming students back into their classroom over the past few weeks. This year, there are some educators entering the classroom for the first time who have participated in some of the innovative “grow your own” programs that have formed due to the educator shortage in Nebraska. Educational Service Unit 13 (ESU 13) believes that these initiatives are crucial in addressing the shortage and ensuring that students in every community across Nebraska have access to a highly skilled and diverse educator workforce. One of our strategic priorities is to expand collaborative relationships with community partners for the purpose of providing resources to students, families, and schools when they need it. Because of this priority, we are investing in partnerships and “grow your own” programs which will increase the workforce, not only for ESU 13, but for others throughout the panhandle.
One of the collaborations is the High Plains Psychology Internship Consortium in partnership with the University of Northern Colorado, Options in Psychology and other sites in Colorado. This program provides doctoral candidates with practical experience in educational settings, allowing them to apply their theoretical knowledge while contributing to the mental health and well-being of students. By integrating these interns into the school system, ESU 13 not only enhances the support available to students but also helps to cultivate a new generation of educational psychologists who are well-prepared to meet the demands of the profession.
Another exciting initiative is the Para-to-Teacher program through Chadron State College. This program is designed to facilitate the transition of paraprofessionals who are invested in our communities into certified teaching roles without the need for them to leave the panhandle to earn their teaching credentials. This program helps to fill teaching vacancies with individuals who already have experience working in educational environments. The Para-to-Teacher pathway not only addresses immediate staffing needs but also supports career advancement for paraprofessionals, fostering a more committed and experienced teaching workforce.
While the shortage of educators is a widespread issue, shortages in special education are even greater. As a regional service agency, we contract with schools to provide a variety of special education related services providers. In an effort to increase the workforce, ESU 13 has worked with future Speech Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists as they work on completing their programs from various colleges and universities, including the University of Nebraska Kearney and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, while living in our communities. These experiences are vital in providing practical training for students in these specialized fields. By partnering with higher education institutions, ESU 13 ensures that the future specialists receive hands-on experience, which is essential for their professional development and the provision of comprehensive support services in schools.
The educator shortage in Nebraska is part of a broader national issue. Programs like those implemented by ESU 13 are essential in creating sustainable pathways into the education profession. These partnerships not only help to mitigate the shortage by increasing the number of qualified educators but also contribute to the diversification of the teaching workforce, which is crucial for enhancing student success and educational equity. The collaborative efforts of ESU 13 with higher education institutions are a testament to the power of strategic partnerships in addressing critical workforce challenges. By investing in “grow your own” programs, ESUs, schools, and educator preparation programs in Nebraska are taking proactive steps to ensure that its schools are equipped with the skilled educators necessary to provide high-quality education for each and every student.