Strengthening and Supporting the Educator Workforce (SSEW)
Helping education agencies build strong, evidence-based pathways to recruit and retain great educators.
About Us
The Center on Strengthening and Supporting the Educator Workforce (SSEW) is a national technical assistance center dedicated to tackling the educator workforce shortage. SSEW amplifies exemplary practices from across the country, provides capacity-building support to regional, state, local, and tribal education agencies, and leverages strategic partnerships to address recruitment and retention challenges and advance the implementation of affordable pathways into the education profession.
Our Leadership
Fredrica M. Nash, EdD
Center Co-Director, RTI International
Robin Wisniewski, PhD
Center Co-Director, RTI International
Priority Topics
SSEW has a focus on seven high leverage solutions relevant to preparing, recruiting, and retaining the educator workforce. SSEW provides no-cost capacity building to state, tribal, regional and local education agencies interested in exploring these strategies to strengthen the educator workforce.
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Improving Teacher Working Conditions
Creating safe, supportive working conditions helps teachers thrive—reducing stress, preventing burnout, and helping them stay focused on student success.
(PDF,
2
pages)
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Improving Educator Workforce Funding Models: Compensation
Increasing compensation is a proven, high-impact solution for reducing teacher shortages and attracting talent.
(PDF,
5
pages)
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Implementing Mentoring within Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs
Teacher Apprenticeship programs are expanding nationwide, offering aspiring educators paid, hands-on experience, education, and mentorship opportunities.
(PDF,
7
pages)
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Ongoing Professional Learning for Administrators: Early Literacy
School administrators are essential in building systems and cultures for improved early literacy success, achieved through investments in evidence-based early reading instruction.
(PDF,
30
pages)
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Access to Excellent Educators in Hard-to-Staff Areas: Math
Nearly half of education leaders say math is harder to hire for than any other subject.
(PDF,
0
pages)
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Access to Excellent Educators in Hard-to-Staff Areas: Special Education
Preparing paraprofessionals for teaching roles strengthens the educator pipeline, helps address persistent shortages, and deepens their contributions.
(PDF,
0
pages)
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Recruiting Teachers in Rural and Remote Regions
Rural and remote schools often struggle the most with teacher shortages, facing unique hurdles when it comes to hiring and keeping great educators.
(PDF,
0
pages)