Across the country, school districts are facing the same challenge: finding and keeping great teachers. Recruiting new educators is increasingly difficult, expensive, and uncertain. Yet one of the most effective long-term solutions is already sitting in classrooms across your district.

Your future teachers are your current students.

Districts that invest in strong Education & Training career pathway programs—often paired with a Grow Your Own (GYO) strategy—are discovering a powerful way to develop the next generation of educators from within their own communities. These programs help students explore careers in education, build real classroom skills, and envision themselves as future teachers.

And the research behind this approach is compelling. Many educators ultimately return to teach close to where they grew up. When districts intentionally cultivate that interest early—through structured coursework, mentorship, and real classroom experience—they create a sustainable pipeline of future educators who already understand the community they will serve.

Why an Education & Training Pathway Matters

A well-designed education pathway does more than introduce students to teaching as a career. It provides students with meaningful opportunities to:

• Develop leadership and communication skills
• Gain hands-on classroom experience
• Learn about pedagogy and child development
• Build connections with local schools and educators

For districts, these programs are a strategic investment in the future workforce. Students who participate in educator pathways are more likely to consider returning to their communities as teachers, helping districts reduce long-term recruitment challenges.

Programs like Educators Rising are designed to support this process by providing a comprehensive curriculum, student leadership opportunities, and connections to a national network of future educators.

Preparing Now for the Next School Year

Launching or strengthening an education pathway program often requires planning—aligning curriculum, preparing teacher leaders, and building partnerships across the district.

That’s why this spring is the perfect time to begin.

Through the Spring Forward promotion, districts that adopt the Educators Rising Curriculum now receive early access ahead of the 2026–27 school year. This gives districts valuable time to prepare their program and build momentum before students ever enter the classroom next fall.
Early access allows districts to immediately begin:

• Reviewing and aligning the curriculum with local pathway goals
• Training teacher leaders who will facilitate the program
• Developing partnerships with district schools for classroom experience opportunities
• Planning student recruitment for the upcoming school year

Rather than rushing implementation in late summer, districts can approach the new school year with a fully prepared program.

Tools to Help Districts Launch Strong

Spring Forward participants gain immediate access to several key resources designed to support a successful educator pipeline program.

• Grow Your Own Playbook: Provides districts with practical guidance for building a sustainable teacher pipeline—from program design to partnerships and recruitment strategies. Sign up to get this resource now.
• Teacher Leader Training: Teacher leaders play a critical role in the success of any pathway program. Early access to Educators Rising teacher leader training allows educators to become familiar with the curriculum and prepare to guide students effectively.
• Educators Rising Curriculum and Lesson Assessments: The curriculum itself provides a structured pathway that introduces students to the teaching profession while developing the academic and professional skills needed to pursue careers in education.

Together, these tools create a foundation for a high-quality pathway program that can grow year after year.

Investing in Your Community’s Future Educators

School districts everywhere are looking for ways to strengthen their educator workforce. While no single strategy solves the challenge overnight, investing in students who already care about their communities is one of the most promising long-term solutions.

By developing a strong Education & Training pathway, districts can inspire students to pursue teaching while building a pipeline of future educators who understand the schools and communities they will serve.

Spring is the perfect moment to take that first step.

Spring Forward today and start building your future teacher pipeline.

Districts that adopt the Educators Rising Curriculum now receive early access to resources that will help launch or strengthen their program for the 2026–27 school year.

Explore our curriculum and get in touch with a member of our outreach team today. Now is the time to launch your program in SY 2026-2027!