Tackling NC’s teacher shortage: A Q&A with new UNC Charlotte ed dean
Multiple teacher vacancies in North Carolina are in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and a top producer of graduates who could fill these jobs statewide comes from our backyard.
“The field of education is not immune to what many have called the ‘Great Resignation,’” says Malcolm Butler, the new dean at the UNC Charlotte Cato College of Education.
“At the onset of the pandemic, teachers were seen as front line heroes. As the pandemic has worn on, that heroism has lost some of its luster, even though teachers are working even harder to ensure students are getting what they need to be successful.”
Staffing shortages in schools are a widespread crisis, the Public School Forum of North Carolina recently reported, with many public districts “essentially operating in survival mode.”
In the fall, there were 2,600 teaching vacancies statewide, according to the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals Association.
A recent national survey of educators found that 55% of respondents were considering leaving the profession earlier than they anticipated — and the percentage was even higher among Black (62%) and Latinx (59%) teachers who are already underrepresented in the field.
UNC Charlotte, one of the state’s largest teacher preparation institutions, has 6,135 graduates working in the state’s public schools, including teachers and administrators. While Charlotte does not supply the majority of early career teachers in public schools, it is one of the top producers of new teachers in the state.
Jason Vaughan, the media relations manager at the university, said during 2021-22, UNC-Charlotte had 115 resident teachers in CMS and 1,865 alumni working in CMS.
Butler, 56, started in his new position at the end of January. He was a professor and director of the School of Teacher Education at the University of Central Florida prior to coming to UNC Charlotte.
Here’s what he has to say about the education field and the role UNC Charlotte can play in making it a more attractive field.
Tell us about your time in the classroom. What did you teach?
“I have been teaching for more than 25 years. I have taught and learned with learners from age 3 up to doctoral students at the university. In my first position, I taught high school students physics, general mathematics, and environmental science. Since that time, I have collaborated with learners in middle school, summer camps, and multiple universities.”
How do you encourage young people to pursue a career in education?
“Encouraging young people to pursue a career in education is part of today’s challenge, as there are so many career options for our best and brightest students — the same ones we want working in our schools.
“That encouragement can come from multiple places, including the opportunity to change children’s lives, along with their families and communities. What a great way to contribute to society.”
What sets UNC Charlotte’s program apart?
“UNC Charlotte is uniquely positioned to contribute to the national conversation about educator preparation for urban settings, including teachers, counselors, and administrators. It is already happening, with many of our graduates going on to great success in their careers.
“We will always be faced with the need to have a sufficient number of high quality teachers for all students, especially in schools where students are most likely to not have those teachers. Our challenge is increasing quantity (e.g., recruiting more teachers), while maintaining quality (e.g, not sacrificing those aspects of our programs that challenge our students to be their very best).”
What are future teachers’ worries?
“There are students who are interested in teaching. And they are also concerned about financial matters, especially as they consider other more lucrative career options.
“All of the politicians I know have had something to say about teachers and schools, it’s just that the pandemic has put even more pressure on schools and teachers to meet the expectations of policy makers, some of whom may have differing opinions about teaching and learning. That is where some of our teacher candidates offer their concerns about being able to be successful in the classroom with their students.”
How do you address the concerns?
“Now, just as in the past, and even more so, into the future, our society will need great educators to maintain and improve our democratic society. Will there be times of despair and despondency — yes. As we prepare our educators for an unjust world, I’d like to think we will provide them with examples of what justice looks like.”
How does the teacher shortage across the country fit into your plans for the college?
“The Cato College of Education will continue to be a part of the national dialogue on the challenges associated with expanding the teacher workforce. Numerous faculty and staff in the college have been deeply and effectively engaged in this work, in many cases, being at the forefront of these conversations.
“These conversations should always lead to action, and that is where our college thrives. As I learn more about our college, there will be time to enhance what we are already contributing to the teacher shortage crisis, while also exploring new avenues and initiatives to address this wicked problem.”
What’s one of the first things you want to do in the city?
“My wife Vikki Gaskin-Butler and I have been in the city since mid-December. We have taken a nature walk, found a few good restaurants, attended a college football bowl game and a Hornets basketball game. I am sure there are many more firsts on the horizon in the Queen City.”
This story was originally published March 7, 2022 at 11:12 AM.
