Concordia Nebraska launches targeted teacher recruitment initiative

To address the nationwide teacher shortage and fulfill accreditation requirements, the Concordia University, Nebraska education department recently launched a targeted teacher recruitment initiative.  

“Research and student feedback consistently demonstrate the profound influence of former teachers on career choices, particularly during the formative middle school years. Recognizing this, we developed a program to encourage students in Lutheran schools to consider teaching as a vocation,” said Dr. Keith Kerschen, associate professor of education and director of data and assessment for Concordia Nebraska.  

Our hope is that through this process, we can build on the important role teachers in the field play in recruiting and mentoring future educators.

To date, this program has involved sending personalized "here’s why you’d make an incredible teacher" notecards to middle school teachers in Lutheran schools across eight states—Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado and Kansas. The notecards, designed for both male and female students, include space for teachers to write personalized messages highlighting each student's potential as an educator. In the first phase of this initiative, materials were distributed to 89 schools, reaching 258 teachers and 516 students. 

“Our department has been looking at different ways to recruit and encourage more students to consider teaching as a vocation,” added Kerschen. “Currently, there is a national teacher shortage in both public and Lutheran schools. During interviews with our students on this subject, we have found the important role that their former teachers play in encouraging them to consider becoming a teacher themselves.” 

The teacher recruitment program has received positive feedback from participating teachers, many of whom are Concordia University, Nebraska alumni. This initiative aligns with the university’s Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) requirements, which mandates a data-driven recruitment strategy that reflects the university’s mission.  

“By analyzing data from our current education students and national research, we created a program designed to encourage the next generation of educators. Our goal is to continue this program and explore expanding it to Lutheran schools in additional states,” said Kerschen. “Many of our students can name a teacher who either inspired or encouraged them to become a teacher too. Using this information and our Lutheran school partners, we decided to build on these findings. Our hope is that through this process, we can build on the important role teachers in the field play in recruiting and mentoring future educators.” 

Concordia University, Nebraska’s education program prepares teachers to lead, teach and serve from a foundation of faith that asserts the value of every individual. Education majors will sharpen their God-given gifts as they learn to minister to future students, families, churches and communities.