Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2022-11-07

Duration: 00:56:19

Subjects: Education | TEACHERS

Contributors:

• St. Cyr, Kara Host
• Johnson, Ben Producer
• Piccoli, Margaret Interviewee
• Winn, Alexa Interviewee
• Erwin, Barry Interviewee
• Eckert, Kimberly Interviewee
• Benoit, John Foster Panelist
• Allen, Micah Panelist
• Stewart, Kamryn Panelist
• Lewis, Henderson Panelist
• Montgomery, Janae Panelist
• Wong, Jamie Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Spotlight” from November 7, 2022, focuses on the teacher shortage in Louisiana. The first segment features interviews with Dr. Margaret Piccolo, a professor of professional practice with the LSU School of Education, and Alexa Winn, a fourth-grade teacher and graduate student, who discuss the teacher shortage and why teachers are leaving the profession. Next, host Kara St. Cyr interviews Barry Erwin, the president and CEO of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL). He discusses the work of the Teacher Recruitment, Recovery, and Retention Task Force. The second segment features an interview with Kimberly Eckert, the teacher of Educators Rising at Brusly High School, a program aimed at recruiting the next generation of teachers. St. Cyr then leads a panel discussion with three future teachers: John Foster Benoit, a junior at Brusly High School; Micah Allen, a junior at the LSU School of Education; and Kamryn Stewart, a senior at the LSU School of Education. They discuss: why they are pursuing a career in education; their fears about becoming a teacher; why their peers do not want to become teachers; whether we ask too much of teachers; and the change they want to see in the profession. The third segment features more highlights of Kimberly Eckert’s Educators Rising class at Brusly High School. Lastly, St. Cyr leads a panel discussion with three teachers: Dr. Henderson Lewis, a professor at the LSU School of Education; Janae Montgomery, a paraprofessional with the West Baton Rouge Parish School System and a student at Reach University; and Jamie Wong, the founder of SPED Strategies. They discuss: why they became a teacher; the teacher shortage; why fewer people are becoming educators; the obstacles to becoming a teacher; how the teacher shortage impacts students; the future of education; and supporting teachers.