Over the next 10 years, Minnesota will have an estimated 18,000 job openings for elementary school teachers and 14,000 for high school teachers, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. However, there are not nearly enough student teachers enrolling in higher education programs to meet the demand.

“We continue to see a need for more teachers in our schools,” Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, DFL-Minnesota, said as she was joined by Walz administration higher education leaders and educators to announce three new grant programs aimed at attracting more students into the teaching profession.

The need is especially acute in the math and science areas along with the need for more teachers of color.

“We need to continue closing these gaps and make sure more students know this is an opportunity for them and that representation matters,” Flanagan said at a State Capitol news conference. “It matters here at the Capitol and it matters also in the classroom.”

The grant programs are aimed at attracting students to the teaching profession with grants and student loan repayment assistance.

“These applications for these programs are open right now and available on our website,” says Minnesota Commissioner of Higher Education Dennis Olson.

Laura Mogelson of the University of Minnesota’s “Pathways to Teaching” program says she knows firsthand how badly students need financial assistance as an incentive to pursue a teaching career.

“This financial support is absolutely vital and I know this for a fact as someone who works directly with teacher candidates,” she says.

“Students come to school with so much energy and I really need a lot to match their energy,” says student teacher grant recipient Sky Choi, who says she knows people who hesitate to enter the teaching profession because of the workload and the potential for financial instability. “You’re in school more than eight hours a day. There’s prep work to be done before and after and during. And a lot of the folks I have talked to mention how they just don’t feel like they will be financially compensated well if they were to pursue teaching.”

The grant application period for students opened on Wednesday.

Additionally, the speakers touched on Minnesota Teacher Shortage Student Loan Repayment Program, which program provides student loan repayment assistance to eligible teachers in Minnesota. You can apply here.

You can watch the conference in the video above or by CLICKING HERE or below.