Since 1991, community leader Rose Padilla Johnson has led the safety net services provider Davis Street Community Center based in San Leandro. Over her entire public career, Rose Padilla Johnson has spearheaded initiatives that improve the quality of life for San Leandro’s most vulnerable residents. She is an ardent supporter of programs that effectively respond to the state’s teacher shortage.
During the 2017-2018 school year, California needed 24,000 more qualified teachers to fill positions at 10,000 schools across the state according to a study conducted by the Learning Policy Institute. That year, only 16,000 new licenses were awarded, while the remaining positions were filled by staff without sufficient teacher training.
While the number of students in California teacher preparation programs has increased over the past seven years, widespread concerns about the high cost of teacher training programs and perceived job instability have made it difficult for the state to attract new educators. To combat this, California’s Governor has increased funding for undergraduate teacher preparation programs and initiatives to encourage non-instructional school staff to obtain teaching credentials. Other education professionals suggest that the shortage may be reversed by reinstating loan forgiveness and tuition-free teaching programs.
