University of Phoenix College of Education establishes boot camp to prepare student teachers amid national teacher shortage

Intensive training complements flexible online programs, empowering aspiring educators to meet demand

University of Phoenix College of Education proudly supports the success of student teachers with its course, “Prepping for Student Teaching Success,” informally known as “boot camp.” The boot camp, along with flexible online degree programs, are part of the College of Education’s significant contribution to addressing the pressing issue of the national teacher shortage.

The scarcity of qualified teachers across the nation has been a growing concern, with many regions experiencing challenges in filling essential teaching positions. Current estimates point to 55,000 vacant full-time teaching positions in the United States. In response to this need, the College of Education remains committed to preparing dedicated and passionate educators who can make a positive impact in classrooms nationwide.

“While COVID-19 is firmly in the rearview mirror for many work environments, the College of Education continues to address lingering aspects of the pandemic on educators,” shares Dean of the College of Education, Dr. Pamela Roggeman. “Relaxed certification requirements in response to a COVID-induced wave of educators leaving the field triggered a new reality for many student teachers. Some school districts began compensating student teachers to entice them to complete their programs and address the teacher shortage.”

The change in certification requirements was a welcome development for students facing financial barriers due to the traditionally unpaid three months of student teaching. This policy shift encouraged some students to return and complete their student teaching requirements. While this helped address immediate teacher staffing needs, it did not address the potential skill decline when students pause their education due to external circumstances. The pause many took in their programs resulted in some returning students needing a refresher on the basic elements of instruction, which made up the bootcamp content.

To help these students, the College of Education created the boot camp, featuring five modules:

• Classroom management

• Lesson planning and instruction

• Professional dispositions

• Social/emotional learning

• Understanding the edTPA assessment

Another issue some student teachers face is a lack of classroom mentorship due to the teacher shortage. Student teachers often find themselves as “teachers of record” — managing classrooms without the traditional model of certified teachers being in the classroom for support, yet still under the supervision of faculty supervisors.

“As novice teachers, they need more support,” shares Roggeman. “We intentionally created training resources to help faculty supervisors in the schools where our students are placed. We work hard to know these supervisors so we can help them coach their student teachers. Additionally, we moved up our on-site informational meeting and midterm evaluation schedule to earlier in the student teachers’ field assignments so we can triage problems they might be experiencing.”

The 2024 Career Optimism Index® study, released by University of Phoenix’s Career Institute®, found that educators encounter career challenges that may contribute to the ongoing shortage of teachers, including reporting a lack of opportunities for upskilling/development (19%) and lack of clear pathways for career progression (17%). The study revealed educators need the most support in these four areas: learning new skills (61%), seeking outgrowth opportunities (56%), expanding their professional network (53%) and learning new skills or tools related to AI (53%).

University of Phoenix’s dedicated emphasis on adult learners offers an ideal pathway to support student teachers, teachers looking to upskill, or those aiming to transition careers into teaching or for parents deeply engaged in their children's school environments who aspire to become educators. Through rigorous academic programs, hands-on experience, and experienced instructors, the College continues to nurture the talents and aspirations of future teachers, empowering them to excel in their chosen profession.

Learn more here about the College of Education at University of Phoenix

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit  phoenix.edu/blog.html.