Nonprofit addresses teacher shortage

A statewide nonprofit organization is hoping to address the shortage of teachers in Arkansas through a range of educational options and financial incentives.

The Teach Arkansas Initiative seeks to guide those interested in becoming a teacher through the pathways to becoming one and the assistance available along the way. The program is one of the Arkansas Department of Education’s partnerships that aims to reverse the years long decline in Arkansas educators.

That shortage was already apparent before COVID-19, with a 2018 study by the Learning Policy Institute having estimated a nationwide shortage back then of 112,000 teachers. Education officials in Arkansas and across the nation say the lack of qualified educators has only grown since.

Ben Kutylo [pronounced is the executive director of Arkansas Forward, a statewide education non-profit. Although not an educator himself, Kutylo has been engaged in education policy for over a decade. He says nearly every school district in Arkansas is facing the shortage.

Kutylo said the Teach Arkansas Initiative hopes to do that by connecting interested Arkansans with available resources for becoming a teacher. Those include financial assistance, student loan forgiveness for college students, and opportunities for both new and longtime teachers. The resources are tailored to meet the individual needs of those looking to enter a career in education.

Those pathways range from high school seniors to Arkansans seeking a change in their profession.

The program is open to anyone with a passion or interest in education. Kutillo said the easiest way to find out more about the program is to visit the Teach Arkansas Initiative website.

As Kutylo explained, the teacher shortage has been felt for years and by nearly every school district in Arkansas. To find out more about the Teach Arkansas Initiative, and ways to enter a career in education in Arkansas, visit www.teacharkansas.org.