Rep. Stevens Hosts Roundtable with Michigan Education Leaders on Teacher Shortage Crisis; Highlights Plan to Support Educators
Farmington Hills, MI — Yesterday, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens hosted a roundtable of local educators, school leaders, and union representatives focused on the growing national teacher shortage and her plan to strengthen the educator workforce.
The conversation centered on the challenges schools face in recruiting and retaining teachers and the severe cuts to federal education policy under the Trump administration.
Participants included Dr. Kelly Coffin, Superintendent of Farmington Public Schools; Christine Meussner, Principal of Farmington High School; and representatives from the Michigan Education Association, the Farmington Education Association, and the National Education Association.
“Michigan students deserve classrooms led by supported, well-prepared teachers,” said Rep. Stevens. “Across the country, teacher shortages are putting pressure on schools and educators. My Addressing Teacher Shortages Act invests in recruiting, training, and retaining the teachers our students need to succeed.”
“The educator shortage in this country is real and needs to be addressed at both the federal and state levels. This includes rebuilding our teacher pipelines at state colleges and universities through incentives and the promise of a stable career that includes healthcare and defined benefits in retirement, while also providing quality programs for those professionals interested in switching to a career in teaching. Classroom teachers also benefit from having Educational Support Professionals working alongside them to serve our students. From our paraprofessionals to our food service workers to our bus drivers, we need to provide a livable wage and benefits in order to attract people into the profession who can provide the complete spectrum of services our students and community need. I am encouraged to see legislation proposed to address current teacher shortages, and to continue to invest in public education so that we can retain quality educators for their entire career.” said Christopher DeYonke, President, Farmington Education Association
The roundtable builds on Rep. Stevens’ ongoing work to support educators, including advocating for increased federal funding for public schools, supporting collective bargaining rights for teachers, and fighting back against President Trump’s effort to dismantle the Department of Education.
Stevens yesterday introduced her Addressing Teacher Shortages Act, which would create a competitive grant program through the U.S. Department of Education to help school districts recruit, prepare, and retain educators. Grants could support initiatives such as teacher residency programs, mentorship and “grow your own” pipelines, credentialing support, housing stipends for early-career teachers, and stronger pathways from community colleges and STEM fields into teaching.
Text of the bill is available here.
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