Calling All Future Educators: Investigating the Influence of a Teacher Recruitment Event

Abstract

ABSTRACT There is a critical, nation-wide teacher shortage. Exacerbating this shortage is declining enrollment in teacher preparation programs that serve as a pipeline to the profession. To help address this shortage, school districts and teacher preparation programs across the country are implementing a variety of strategies to recruit high school students to consider pursuing a career as a PreK-12 teacher. While such initiatives are growing in number, little research has been conducted to guide and inform these initiatives, and little is known about the extent to which they are successful. In response, the researchers used a single-case study design involving survey and interview data collected from high school student participants to investigate the influence of a two-day recruitment event on participant knowledge about and attitudes toward becoming a teacher. Results confirmed that well-planned recruitment events can have a positive influence on participant knowledge of the teaching profession and attitudes toward becoming a teacher and offered multiple recommendations to guide and inform future recruitment initiatives.