FROM THE CEO: Supporting the education leaders of tomorrow, today

Back-to-school season was an exciting time for us at PDK International with the release of the 56th annual PDK Poll. As you no doubt saw in our September issue, Americans have expressed interest in several education initiatives that resonate across party lines. And one of those issues resonates with us a lot — the need to recruit and retain high-quality teachers in our schools.

In 1969, our poll revealed that 75% of Americans would encourage their children to pursue a career in teaching. That was the year Nixon became president, the Beatles gave their last public performance, and the Boeing 747 made its first-ever commercial flight. Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. All the while, the U.S. was involved in the Vietnam War.

Contrast that with today, when only 40% of Americans want their children to consider a career in teaching, which The 74 Million quoted me as saying was “harrowing.”

Our organization pivoted some years ago to focus on building the future generation of educators, and we continue to stand behind that decision. As we awaken in young Americans the calling to teach, it is critical that we also cultivate respect for the profession and reinforce the role educators play in our democracy.

I encourage you to follow our efforts with Educators Rising to understand how powerful a movement we have created! Helping us nurture the next generation of educators is so important. Our hope is that our PDK members will take an active role in supporting the next generation of educators as mentors and help us launch programs in your communities to increase the impact of this movement across the country.

Many of our students at this year’s national conference shared with us why they wanted to teach. One wrote: “I like seeing students make connections. And realize that they, too, are perfectly capable.” Another wrote: “I want to teach because everyone deserves to learn from a passionate teacher.” You can feel the desire these students have to make a difference and support our next generation.

It’s up to us to make our voices heard around the issues that make teaching less attractive today. I encourage you to have candid conversations about the role we play, the impact we have, and the necessity for reasonable compensation and benefits. While our program lifts awareness of the impact teachers can have in the front of a classroom, we also must keep that energy and enthusiasm alive when they get their first jobs. Of course, one of the ways we can all be heard is to vote. I encourage you to review the education platforms of all candidates and to vote based on your beliefs about what students and families need in our country.

Finally, in separate news, this past month we launched a new initiative with our friends at AASA, the School Superintendents Association. The Network of Distinguished Educators is a cadre of truly distinguished school superintendents from across the country. PDK International and AASA have formed this group to provide experienced school leaders an opportunity to continue to grow professionally and share their problems of practice with the creation of case studies. We’re pleased to have a partnership with the Harvard Graduate School of Education to help us with this case study approach. In September, we held our first gathering in Arlington, Virginia, under the leadership of Susan Enfield. We’re excited to share more about this group in the future.

Thank you for your continued support of PDK International and Kappan magazine! Our board will meet this month to discuss the strategic plan for our organization, and we hope you’ll share your thoughts with us about how we can maximize our impact on the field of education.