How These Principals Got Creative to Recruit STEM Teachers

Photo above: Allison Persad is the principal of The Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria.

By Arianna Prothero
Originally published by Education Week on September 20, 2024

Students want courses in STEM subjects and companies and government agencies want graduates coming out of high school and college with strong foundations in STEM areas.

To meet that demand, schools are trying to hire more STEM teachers. But their skill sets also make them attractive employees in the private sector, where jobs often offer better pay and benefits than schools.

What is a principal to do?

Get creative, say Monica Asher and Allison Persad, two high school principals hailing from Ohio and New York, respectively.

Persad: What I did is I had a former student who went into the world of journalism and media. She’s actually been nominated for Emmy [awards], and I’ve stayed in touch with her over the years. She’s now decided she wants a more regular job as she’s settling into marriage and possibly children. I said to her, “my dream is for you to eventually come back to teach at Astoria.” She wasn’t ready five years ago [or] three years ago. Finally, this year, I’ve convinced her to come back as a teacher. She’s now going to run my media lab.