Across the country, schools continue to face a fundamental workforce challenge: finding enough qualified educators to fill classrooms.
Federal data show that 74% of U.S. public schools reported difficulty filling at least one vacant teaching position with a fully certified teacher before the 2024–25 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. On average, public schools reported six teaching vacancies and filled 79% of those positions with fully certified teachers before classes began.
The challenge is not simply about filling today’s vacancies. It is also about building the pipeline of educators who will lead tomorrow’s classrooms.
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On Thursday, October 8, student leaders from across the country will bring that conversation to Washington, D.C., during the second annual National Be A Teacher Day™. Representatives from Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), the National FFA Organization, and SkillsUSA will gather at the National Press Club to address one urgent question: What will it take for today’s students to choose teaching?
The national event will examine what attracts young people to education careers, what may discourage them from entering the profession, and what schools, colleges, communities, employers, and policymakers can do to make teaching a more compelling career choice.
National Be A Teacher Day™ puts those students at the center of the conversation. Rather than discussing the educator pipeline only from the perspective of institutions and policymakers, the initiative asks young people directly what influences their career decisions, which educators have shaped their lives, and what could make them see teaching as a meaningful and attainable career.
Participating student leaders are already exploring education-related career paths. Their perspectives can help schools, educator preparation programs, communities, and policymakers better understand what the next generation is looking for as they consider their futures.
Developed and led by FCCLA, National Be A Teacher Day™ is a nationwide initiative designed to elevate the teaching profession, encourage students to explore careers in education, and help strengthen the future educator pipeline.
The October 8 national event will take place from 10:00–11:00 AM ET at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and will be livestreamed for audiences across the country.
As schools continue working to recruit and retain qualified educators, National Be A Teacher Day™ raises a question that cannot be answered through vacancy numbers alone.
Who will teach the next generation, and what will inspire today’s students to step forward? Learn more about National Be A Teacher Day™ at BeATeacherDay.org.