CINCINNATI — A teacher shortage is hurting many cities across the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says there are nearly 560,000 fewer public school teachers now than before the pandemic.

Now, the U.S. Department of Education is enlisting colleges and universities to help solve that problem.


What You Need To Know

  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics says there are nearly 560,000 fewer public school teachers now than before the pandemic now

  • The U.S. Department of Education Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program has a nearly $25 million five-year grant

  • The grant is helping schools recruit, prepare, develop and keep teachers.

  • The University of Cincinnati is one of 22 the recipients of the grant

Cierra Gordon has always enjoyed helping others, especially with schoolwork. 

“In school I was always helping other people with classwork and things like that, but I just didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do,” said Gordon. 

Becoming a school teacher has always been an interest of hers. But there were times she felt discouraged. 

“Everyone was saying like teachers don’t make money,” she said. “You don’t want to go into that profession and that teachers burn out within like three years.”

She didn’t let that stop her from following her dreams. For the past four years, she’s been studying middle childhood education at the University of Cincinnati. It’s her hope to become either a math or language arts teacher. 

“I really just want to be able to make an impact on my community, on younger students, especially minority students who don’t have as much representation,” Gordon said. 

Cierra Gordon. (Spectrum News 1/ Camri Nelson)

Even though she’s excited about getting started in her career, she has some concerns. One of which is not being able to be there for her students in and out of the classroom. 

“We don’t always have the resources or the time or the money to do those things, so just being in a position where I can’t fully help one of my students is something that I’m most concerned about,” she said.

But the U.S. Department of Education Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program is looking to help support students like Gordon. A nearly $25 million five-year grant is helping schools recruit, prepare, develop and keep teachers. 

Bringing in more students who are passionate about it and making sure that they are staying in it is very important. 

The University of Cincinnati is one of 22 schools to receive money from the five-year grants. In the first year, For the first year, the University of Cincinnati will receive $673,912, according to the U.S. Department fo Education.

“I’m very excited about that and I hope that we continue to receive money for that,” Gordon said.