STEM Teachers Needed
Across the country, schools face a significant shortfall in qualified STEM teachers. According to the U.S. Department of Education, more than half of states report a deficit in STEM teachers. This shortage is more pronounced in high-need, low-income schools. Below we’ll share key data points about this critical shortage; explaining why it’s more important than ever that people consider teaching STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).
STEM Teachers Shortage
A report by the Education Commission of the States (2018) highlights that the number of graduates in STEM fields entering the teaching profession has been declining. Likely due to career pay gaps, only a small fraction of STEM degree holders choose education as their career. This is because many STEM degree holders believe they can make more money in fields other than teaching.
The National Science Board’s 2020 report on the state of science and engineering in the US revealed that STEM jobs are growing at a rate of nearly twice that of non-STEM jobs. Unfortunately, however, the education system is struggling to keep up with the demand for skilled professionals. This is partly due to the lack of sufficient STEM educators who are crucial in preparing students for these careers. When the US cannot produce enough STEM career candidates, the country is forced to look to outside countries for qualified job candidates, or fall behind in STEM work.
Moreover, the impact of the STEM teacher shortage is reflected in student performance. For instance, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results show that only 34 percent of eighth graders are proficient in mathematics. Worse, only 22 percent are proficient in science. These points indicate a need for improvement in STEM education quality and delivery. This starts with having dedicated and proficient teachers.
Get Certified to Teach STEM
This issue has been longstanding. To address it, we’ve seen initiatives such as the “100Kin10” project which aimed to train and recruit 100,000 STEM teachers. While progress has been made, ongoing efforts are necessary to meet the increasing demand for STEM education and ensure that all students have access to high-quality learning experiences.
Perhaps you’re realizing you can make a difference and start teaching a STEM subject area. Learn how you can get certified by visiting www.americanboard.org. Certification is available in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, General Science, Mathematics, and Elementary education, in addition to other subjects. American Board’s teacher certification program is entirely online, meaning you can do all of your studying at home or wherever you have online access. American Board’s program is accepted by 14 states across the country, and that number is always growing.
Student need to be inspired by STEM subjects. If you’ve got the STEM knowledge to share, continue becoming a local STEM teacher today. Alex Augustus of Missouri did, and he now enjoys teaching math.
