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More teachers than ever are leaving the profession

August 2, 2022 by Strategic Communication

Alumni teaching.

Across the nation, teachers are leaving the profession. The pandemic and shifting political landscape have left teachers feeling overworked and undervalued. 

According to a 2022 Gallup poll, K-12 teachers report the highest burnout rate of all U.S. professions. More than four out of every 10 teachers said they feel burned out “always” or “very often” at work. 

Dr. Stefanie Livers, associate professor in the department of childhood education and family studies at Missouri State University, gives reasons for why teachers are fleeing and provides advice for current teachers and teacher educators.  

The challenges 

Teaching is historically undervalued, according to Livers. She said, “Teachers are underpaid, benefits are always unstable and the workload keeps increasing.”  

The pandemic has increased the stress levels for teachers because they had to introduce virtual learning in their classes.

In addition to the systemic challenges of teaching, teachers face social and emotional challenges.  

People often direct their frustrations about political, societal and curriculum issues onto teachers. Some even attack teachers on a personal level.  

“If you’re under attack, it’s a hard place to be,” Livers said.   

The teaching profession is becoming deprofessionalized. Schools are starting to require teachers to follow hyper-specific guidelines for teaching, limiting teacher autonomy. 

Teachers go through rigorous programs to become experts in their field. To become teachers, candidates must apply to and get accepted into the program. Then they must complete programmatic coursework, student teach and pass numerous assessments. 

Teachers need the ability to use their expertise to build their instructional practice based on the students’ needs, but deprofessionalization restricts that ability. 

“We need to provide teachers with the professional courtesy to do their job with integrity,” Livers said. 

The current climate of the teaching profession is problematic.

For the future of education, Livers said, “Something needs to change, and something needs to change quickly.” 

For teachers seeking jobs, Livers recommends they look for supportive administrations that make their teachers feel valued.    

Feeling valued at work leads to better mental and physical health, and higher job satisfaction, according to a survey from the American Psychology Association.    

“Your administrator matters,” Livers said. “With the teacher shortage, teachers can be more intentional in their job search and look for schools with support systems for teachers.”   

Update teacher preparation programs  

Teacher educators need to adapt and evolve their teacher preparation programs to accommodate the current climate of the teaching profession. 

If future teachers enjoy their time in the classroom from the start of their teaching program, they are more likely to feel satisfied and prepared for their profession.    

Teachers may enjoy teaching more when their preparation includes active learning activities, like teaching small groups and providing one-on-one support to students.  

Less time on campus and more time in schools could prove to be more meaningful for future teachers. 

Missouri State has updated its teacher preparation programs to include more practical experience.  

For example, the students who take the Methods of Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Schools course partake in a service-learning practicum. Throughout the semester, the students provide a safe environment for children who are refugees to learn through play.   

“Students should be able to develop their learning through hands-on experiences,” Livers said. “Teacher educators should act more like mentors on the ground in local schools and play an active role in helping future teachers learn how to teach within local classrooms.”     

“Creating a network of ideas is important,” Livers said. “We could use more out-of-box experiences within teacher preparation that allow future teachers to use their expertise and develop their teaching practice in creative ways that would also help our local community.”    

The bottom line 

The teaching profession has challenges, but overall, it is a rewarding career.  

On the most difficult days, Livers recommends that teachers try to remember why they became teachers.  

“I know teaching can be challenging but remember why it matters,” Livers said. 

“Teachers matter, and I hope that we can collectively improve the profession so that teachers can always feel supported and valued.”

Explore education programs

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: childhood education and family studies, Stefanie Livers

Associate professor renews national board certification

January 31, 2022 by Strategic Communication

Dr. Stephanie Livers teaching in an MSU classroom.

Dr. Stefanie Livers, associate professor in the department of childhood education and family studies, is a renewed national board-certified teacher through The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). 

“As a teacher educator, it is important to maintain my national board certification and model consistent self-improvement for both my teacher candidates and graduate students,” Livers said. “It shows that I can implement the philosophies and methods that I am teaching in actual elementary classrooms.”  

Livers initially received her certification in 2001 and recertified for the first time in 2011.   

What it takes  

To earn board certification, teachers complete a performance based, peer-reviewed process, demonstrating their proven impact on student learning and achievement.   

“They put their teaching to the test and voluntarily challenge themselves by reflecting on their practice and confirming that they are teaching to the highest standards,” said Peggy Brookins, president and CEO of the NBPTS.   

Livers has joined a growing community of more than 130,000 board-certified teachers in the United States.  

“We work to drive teacher quality to help assure that all youth in America have equal access to the best possible teachers,” Brookins said. “I encourage all Americans to pause and celebrate our national board-certified teachers.” 

Learn more about becoming a Board Certified Teacher

Filed Under: COE Faculty Tagged With: childhood education and family studies, education, Stefanie Livers

COE department head receives statewide award

April 16, 2020 by Sydni Moore

Hill Hall on a spring day.

Dr. Denise Cunningham, childhood education and family studies department head, and all her hard work has not gone unnoticed. Missouri Educators of Family and Consumer Sciences and Human Services (MoEFACS) recently selected Cunningham as the recipient of the 2020 Champion Business Leader award.  

The news came to Cunningham in a letter from Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). 

“When I first saw the letter, I thought another faculty member, Debra Price, had won an award for post-secondary teaching,” Cunningham said. “I had no idea the award was for me. I didn’t think I had done anything worthy of being recognized.” 

MoEFACS felt differently, as do her colleagues.  

“A leader is a person who empowers and uses the strengths of others in order to yield positive results. Dr. Cunningham is that type of leader,” Dr. Stefanie Livers said. Livers is an assistant professor in Cunningham’s department. “She effectively supports faculty in their individual teaching and research, orchestrating a synergistic body that provides students with quality programs.” 

Creating a legacy  

Cunningham began at Missouri State in 2005 as an assistant professor in early childhood education. She has since “demonstrated a sustained commitment to improving career and technical education.” 

“I have been intentional about working with family and consumer science teachers to develop dual credit opportunities in child development, human development and family studies, as well as education-specific courses, such as Introduction to Elementary Education,” Cunningham said.  

She has also invited FACS and Career Pathways teachers and interested students to campus to learn about related MSU programs.  

In addition to creating opportunities, Cunningham led the development of two master’s degree programs: Master of Science in Child Life Studies and Master of Science in Early Childhood Special Education. Cunningham also expanded the College of Education’s Internship Academy to include opportunities for early childhood education candidates.  

“I have also been involved in Bear Partnership, a summer, week-long immersion experience for high school students interested in the field of education,” Cunningham said.  

MSU memories 

One of Cunningham’s favorite memories in her 15 years at the university is when she implemented the Abundant Books for Children project across schools in Stone County.  

The project culminated from her own research, and she put it to use in an early childhood methods course as a service-learning assignment. She and her undergraduate students went to five school districts to provide workshops for families with preschool students. The workshops taught families how to use an interactive, shared book experience with their young children.  

“The work with the families was so enjoyable, but I was thrilled at what students learned from the experience,” Cunningham said. “It was so cool to have my research, teaching and service so connected.” 

Cunningham said she looks forward to the rest of her time at Missouri State. She will be recognized for her work July 22, at a MoEFACS luncheon and awards ceremony. Additionally, MoEFACS will forward an application for Cunningham to the National Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences (NATFACS), to compete for the Champion for Family and Consumer Sciences award.

Filed Under: Child Life Studies, COE Faculty Tagged With: award, Denise Cunningham, FACS, Stefanie Livers

Congratulations to Dr. Stefanie Livers

April 1, 2020 by Sydni Moore

Dr. Stefanie Livers works with students in class.

The College of Education is excited to announce that the 2020 issue of Mind’s Eye features the work of Dr. Stefanie Livers.

Read an excerpt from her story:

“Mathematics is the gate keeper for all careers and futures,” Livers said. “Many schools use math as a decision maker of what track or trajectory you’re on.”

If math serves as a gatekeeper, what about students that don’t excel in the current math classroom model? Livers argues that every student can solve problems by using their individual strengths and funds of knowledge.

 

READ THE FULL STORY

Congratulations, Dr. Livers!

Filed Under: COE Faculty Tagged With: education, math, Mind's Eye, research, Stefanie Livers

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