At a time when schools across the country are struggling to recruit and retain teachers, a new RapidResponse poll from Educators Rising offers something rare and powerful: direct insight from the next generation of educators.

Respect and support will determine whether many students enter the profession.

These high school students—already exploring teaching as a career—shared clear, thoughtful perspectives on respect for teachers, school safety, and what it will take for them to enter and remain in the profession.

Their message to today’s education leaders is both encouraging and instructive.

60% of teachers work within 20 miles of where they went to high school.

What this means for education leaders:
These responses reinforce that respect and professional treatment matter deeply to future teachers. Schools that elevate teacher voice, celebrate accomplishments, and create supportive working environments will have a significant advantage in attracting this next generation.

This short poll looked at:

• The need for respect from students and their families
• School safety
• Having paid work-based experiences ahead of teaching
• Understanding about how to become a teacher after high school
• Celebrating our best teachers

All of our questions were asked upon a Likert scale, with 5=strongly agree and 1=strongly disagree.

Finally, we asked students how schools and communities could recognize excellent teachers. They contributed these ideas:

• Offer grants to teachers who demonstrate excellence to be used for classroom activities
• Educators Rising students/members could create events to honor teachers and bring a light to the work they’re doing
• Every school should have a “teacher of the month” program
• Share teacher highlights through social media
• Offer awards for teachers that include the school community through school-wide events
• Establish a Teacher Honor Program where students, their families, and community members can nominate excellent teachers; this program should include public honor of the teachers and potentially come with benefits such as classroom grants, supplies, scholarships, tuition assistance, or paid sabbatical opportunities
• Highlight excellent teachers in already existing outreach communications such as newsletters and emails
• Host teacher appreciation dinners or other events
• Nominate teachers for recognition as its done for athletes—create a pool and let the community vote on a favorite via the website
• Provide teachers an opportunity for a “fun day” away from the school with a financial award
• Provide opportunities for experts to come to the school in honor of the teacher to share educational research, workshops, etc. while also honoring their contributions with the faculty and the experts

What Schools Can Do Now

Schools and districts that want to strengthen their future educator pipeline can:

• Start an Educators Rising chapter
• Integrate teaching as part of their CTE pathway
• Elevate student voice in education career programs
• Provide early classroom experiences

Educators Rising provides the structure and support to make this possible!

These Students Represent the Future Workforce

Educators Rising students are not casual observers—they are actively preparing to become teachers. Their perspectives offer school and district leaders an early look at the expectations and motivations of the future educator workforce.