Empower Your Teaching Career: Westmoreland Launches Innovative Special Education Certificate Program to Strengthen Educator Workforce

Schools in Westmoreland County are facing a tough time finding special education teachers. This is part of a bigger problem across Pennsylvania.

As of October, over 2,000 teacher positions were unfilled statewide. Westmoreland County alone needs around 30 more teachers, according to the nonprofit group PA Needs Teachers.

Many of these vacancies—46%, in fact—are in special education. Penn State professor Ed Fuller pointed this out in an interview, highlighting the growing demand for qualified educators.

Jason Conway, who heads the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit, emphasized the challenge in hiring teachers for critical roles like ESL, speech therapy, and classes for students with visual and hearing impairments. He stated, “We’re lucky if we get one qualified candidate for a position. If they get another job offer, we’re back to square one.”

Substitute teaching has also been impacted. “Often, we’re down to just one or two substitutes available for our programs,” Conway said, “while the need is much greater.” This shortage puts a strain on the students and the schools.

To help address this issue, a new certificate program was introduced by the Luzerne Intermediate Unit. This program aims to bring people from non-teaching backgrounds into the special education field.

Participants can earn a Pennsylvania Instructional I teaching certificate by completing a 50-credit course, which includes remote evening classes and three months of student teaching. It’s designed for anyone with a bachelor’s degree, no matter the subject.

Conway praised the program for its support system, saying, “Participants never feel alone in their journey.” The program is well-structured, meeting with students before and during their coursework to ensure they feel supported.

The program has enjoyed a remarkable success rate of 100% on final exams, according to Mary Dreliszak from the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit. The remote evening classes make it easier for working individuals to balance their jobs while pursuing a teaching career.

While Conway acknowledges that the program won’t resolve the shortage overnight, he is hopeful that it will inspire more people to consider education as a fulfilling career. “We want to ensure that those interested in teaching have avenues to pursue this path,” he said.