In schools across the country this spring, high school seniors are being celebrated as they ceremoniously sign declarations of intent. They鈥檙e not student-athletes announcing which school they are committing to鈥攖hey鈥檙e future teachers.
Future teacher signing days have become an increasingly popular tactic by school and district leaders to strengthen the teacher pipeline. They鈥檙e a chance to position teaching as a career that deserves recognition and applause, and honor the teenagers who are interested in entering the field.
鈥淲e think this is as big of a deal as announcing that you鈥檙e going to play women鈥檚 basketball at [the University of] Iowa, or men鈥檚 basketball at the University of North Carolina,鈥� said James Lane, the CEO of PDK International, whose signature program is , which works to create pathways for students who want to be teachers. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just as big of a deal when kids announce that they ... want to become a teacher and give a life of service to children.鈥�
District leaders should be targeting their K-12 students to ensure a sustainable supply of teachers long term, Lane said. After all, past research has found that more than 60 percent of teachers work within 20 miles of where they went to high school.
鈥淪chool districts spend a lot of money on HR and recruiting,鈥� Lane said. 鈥淏ut their best recruiting tool is actually with the kids in their community and convincing them that education is a great life, and you can make a difference.鈥�
It can be a hard sell. Teaching has a reputation as a low-paid, overworked, and disrespected profession. Research has shown that college undergraduates who are interested in teaching say that they鈥檝e received discouraging messages about the field from people they respect, such as family members, friends, and former teachers, as well as from the media.
But signing days are a chance to flip that narrative. In those ceremonies, students who are interested in teaching are celebrated and encouraged.
鈥淲e want people to know that the moment that you make that decision to become a teacher, you鈥檙e making a decision to make people鈥檚 lives better and our world a better place,鈥� Lane said. 鈥淲e believe we have a responsibility to let people celebrate the folks that are making those decisions to raise the next generation of students, side by side with parents in our communities.鈥�
For the past few years, Educators Rising has hosted a signing day at its national conference, which brings more than 3,300 students to Washington in the summer. And during Teacher Appreciation Week, which takes place the first full week of May, local chapters host their own signing days with support from the national organization, which provides a toolkit of resources.
This year, for Educators Rising chapters is on May 7, although other schools hold their own signing ceremonies at other points throughout the spring.
A positive school affair
Earlier this month, four seniors at Baldwin County High School in Bay Minette, Ala., signed a pledge demonstrating their commitment to be a teacher. It was the school鈥檚 second time hosting a signing day event, and everyone was excited.
The art teacher created the students鈥� nameplates for the ceremony. The media teacher created posters with the future teachers鈥� names and colleges. The business teacher made the certificates the students signed. The science teacher designed invitations to send to district and state officials.
鈥淚t was a school effort,鈥� said Vickie Locke, an English teacher at the school and the lead adviser for the school鈥檚 chapter of Future Teachers of Alabama. 鈥淲e wanted it to look just right.鈥�
Locke encouraged the students to contact the admissions department at their future colleges to get some paraphernalia, like pennants and pompoms, to decorate the signing tables, and to wear their college T-shirts to the ceremony. The future teachers were allowed to invite their close school friends to the ceremony, in addition to their family members.
All those little touches made for a special ceremony for the future teachers, Locke said. They also drew the interest of other students who aren鈥檛 in the Future Teachers of Alabama club.
鈥淪ome students see this and how we talk it up and how dignified it is and how nice it is鈥攖hey like that,鈥� Locke said, adding that some have asked how they can join the club next year.
During the ceremony, Locke asked each student the same question: Why do you want to be a teacher?
This year, one student said she feels that she could help some of the students in the area because she relates to some of the challenges they might be facing.
鈥淪he just wants to give back to our community in a positive way,鈥� Locke said. 鈥淪he said, 鈥業 want to come back to Baldwin County and be a teacher.鈥� That鈥檚 kind of what we hope鈥攖hat they鈥檒l come back.鈥�
Added Locke, a 28-year teaching veteran: 鈥淚 need someone to come back and take my place who鈥檚 in it for the right reasons.鈥�
鈥榃e want alumni back鈥�
Some districts have added incentives for students to come back and teach in their signing day programs.
At Colquitt County High School in Norman Park, Ga., any senior participating in the signing day is guaranteed a position in the district if they graduate from college with a teaching certificate.
鈥淲e are really working hard to grow our own teachers,鈥� said Daniel Chappuis, the school鈥檚 principal. 鈥淲e want alumni back and engaged in the community that they grew up in.鈥�
Last year, 10 students signed pledges to pursue teaching, and Chappuis expects a few more to do so in this year鈥檚 ceremony, which will be held next month.
Meanwhile, at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Ind., students are guaranteed a first-round interview at the district once they graduate college and earn their teaching license. While earning their degrees, they鈥檝e got a spot as a student-teacher in the district.
Building up homegrown talent is one way the district is working to combat the decline in applications for teaching positions, said Krista Nelson, the director of human resources and student services. The high school offers opportunities for students to earn college credit in education courses, as well as a cadet teaching program that lets students work in elementary or middle school classrooms throughout the school year.
Last year, 20 high school seniors committed to the field of education during the school鈥檚 inaugural teacher signing day, which drew a crowd of more than 100 people. This year, the district is expecting 30 signees, Nelson said.
鈥淲e did it to put a spotlight on those students who have that passion to support others,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ot only was it kids feeling proud because there was a large group of people cheering them on, ... there were a lot of joyful tears from parents.鈥�
Nelson plans to keep in touch with every student who signs a commitment by sending them letters twice a year to see if there鈥檚 anything the district can do to support them. So far, she hasn鈥檛 heard that anyone has changed their minds.
Celebrating current teachers, too
School and district leaders say there鈥檚 another benefit to future teacher signing day: showing appreciation to the current teachers who inspired students to follow in their footsteps.
For example, the Mansfield, Mass., school district held its first signing event for prospective teachers last year, using resources provided by the state education department. One special touch: The students who were honored at the event invited an educator who inspired them to become a teacher to watch them sign their declaration of intent.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a win-win: It鈥檚 honoring the students who are looking to be teachers, [and] it鈥檚 honoring the teachers鈥� who inspired them,鈥� Superintendent Teresa Murphy said. This year鈥檚 ceremony will be held next month.
Lane, the CEO of Educators Rising, said he often sees students at signing ceremonies talking about their own teachers and thanking them for inspiring them. It鈥檚 a huge source of pride for teachers, he said.
鈥淭he signing day isn鈥檛 just about the student going into the field,鈥� Lane said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about everyone who had a role in helping the student get to that point in that decision having that moment of celebration. ...
鈥淚t鈥檚 a celebration of the community鈥攖hat we are a place that grows educators. And what better story can we tell from our school environment, that we are convincing our kids that the work we do with them every day is important [enough] that they can make it a part of their lives?鈥�
