TCNJ program recruits the next urban teachers

Predictions of a massive, nationwide teacher shortage have prompted The College of New Jersey to put extra gusto into encouraging high school students to become teachers.

But their efforts haven't focused on just anybody.

The kinds of students recruited for a unique teacher indoctrination program this summer have been those with a desire to work in cities and poor school districts, where student performances are traditionally below suburban counterparts and recruiting highly qualified teachers can be a challenge.

And the training has been designed to match the conditions that teachers will face in urban classrooms: children afflicted with problems from inconsistent parenting to violent, unruly behavior.

"Studies are predicting that 2 million teachers may be needed across the country in the next 10 years. That could create a real problem, especially for our urban schools," said Larry Fieber, director of the Urban Teachers Academy program.

The academy last week wrapped up its third year with 47 rising high school seniors across Mercer County and nearby municipalities.

The National Education Association says that massive retirements over the next decade will create a shortfall of more than a million teachers.

"We're trying to capture the interest of high school students now, to resolve that shortfall later," Fieber said.

For roughly two weeks, the students have spent every weekday learning about the obstacles that can often affect city schools: bullying, violence, depressed economics and little parental oversight.

"Teachers sometimes have to be the home-outside-the-home," said Jeffrey Soto, who will be a senior at Ewing High School. "Kids need to be shown the mother figure, the father figure. That's why really passionate teachers are so crucial to the success of cities; sometimes, teachers have to play the role of guardian."

Soto's vision mirrors what many of the other high school participants said they aspire to create: change.

Raised in the suburbs near a city that is battling gang violence and home foreclosures, his dreams for the future involve shaping the outlook of others. Changing the life of even one student, he said, can have a positive ripple effect in a community.

"Sometimes kids just need to hear they can do it; they can achieve," he said. "It sounds simple, but just reminding them of that really matters."

Students also toured city schools, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and the Mercer County Special Services District. Experts and instructors on multicultural issues and early childhood education also provided lessons to the participants.

Since the Urban Teachers Academy began in 2006, more than 93 percent of participating students have been accepted or are currently taking teacher preparation courses to teach in urban districts, Fieber said.

"We are conducting a longitudinal study," he said, "and so far, we've been incredibly successful. I think that's because we're very focused on recruiting the kinds of students who have 'the calling,' or the passion to be in urban environments."