Abstract:

Across the United States, teacher recruitment and retention continue to present persistent challenges, particularly in rural and high need districts. This session explores a collaborative initiative designed to address these challenges through the development of a locally focused teacher pipeline. The partnership—uniting the University of South Carolina Aiken, Saluda County Schools, and Piedmont Technical College—aims to create a seamless, supportive pathway that encourages students to enter the teaching profession and remain in local schools long term.

The presentation will describe the formation of this multi institutional collaboration, including the early conversations, shared commitments, and strategic decisions that shaped the partnership’s direction. Presenters will discuss the process of aligning program structures across K–12, two year, and four year institutions, as well as efforts to design clear transition points that support aspiring teachers from high school through degree completion.

Challenges encountered during development and implementation will be highlighted, such as coordinating expectations across institutions, responding to varied stakeholder needs, and addressing barriers that often impact teacher persistence—academic preparation, access to mentoring, and financial constraints. The session will also showcase how the partnership addressed these challenges through intentional communication structures, the creation of early and ongoing clinical experiences, and targeted supports designed to strengthen both recruitment into the pathway and retention within the profession.

By sharing lessons learned and practical recommendations, this session offers guidance for universities, school districts, and community partners seeking to build similar pipelines. Attendees will gain insights into effective collaboration, strategies for developing sustainable recruitment efforts, and approaches that help retain well prepared teachers who are committed to serving their local communities.

Keywords:

Teacher pipeline, educator preparation, school–university partnerships.