PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — People considering a career as a teacher in Philadelphia now have a web site to demystify the process.
It's another strategy to address the national teacher shortage. The newly-launched TeachPHL.org is a project of the Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition, run by the nonprofit Elevate 215.
The campaign is funded by a $250,000 state grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. David Saenz, Elevate 215's communications director, says the new teacher hub simplifies the process toward finding jobs at city district and charter schools.
"There are resources that exist specifically at the state level on how to navigate this process, but it is not necessarily user-friendly. If we help guide them along, then [TeachPHL.org] will hopefully provide the information they need in a digestible way," Saenz told KYW Newsradio.
"In order to make sure that the pipeline can not only be filled with more talented individuals — but also diverse individuals — we have to start thinking about different audiences to try to attract to teaching."
TeachPHL.org leads prospective teachers through their options, such as whether they’re already certified in another state or if they want to be paid in a teacher residency program while they're seeking certification. The site aims to define a pathway for people who want to be teachers — whether they're already state-certified, or considering a new vocation.
For example, Saenz says the site provides information on residency programs. "If you're a career changer and you're doing something else and [say], 'Oh, I don't want to go back to school to become a teacher,' well, there are opportunities to be able to transition that without having to have a lapse in income," he said.