Are You Still Recruiting the Old Way? Rethinking K-12 Educator Pipelines for Today’s Challenges

Districts across the country face the same pressing challenge: how to recruit and keep great educators in an era of shrinking pipelines, tighter budgets, and rising burnout. Traditional strategies like Grow Your Own and college job fairs are still important, but on their own, they’re no longer enough.

In this conversation, you’ll hear from experts who work side-by-side with HR leaders nationwide to address the educator shortage. AASPA Executive Director Dr. Kelly Coash-Johnson and Frontline Education’s Collin Osburn share fresh ways to expand your talent pipeline, accelerate alternative certification, and strengthen retention strategies that save districts money.

You’ll leave with a clearer picture of what works (and what doesn’t), plus practical steps you can take right now to prepare for next year’s hiring cycle.

What You’ll Learn

• Why traditional Grow Your Own programs and college partnerships alone won’t solve shortages, and how districts are reframing them.
• How to build pipelines from paraprofessionals, bus drivers, volunteers, and parents already connected to your schools.
• The role of apprenticeships and alternative certification in creating faster, more sustainable paths into the classroom.
• Why retention matters more than recruitment, and how burnout, retirement, and turnover drive costs.
• How AI, career pathways, and recognition are being used to support teachers and reduce burnout.
• Why “data is king” when it comes to making the case for new strategies in your district.

Who Should Attend

• K-12 HR directors and HR teams
• District leaders seeking fresh approaches to recruitment and retention
• Educators and staff involved in Grow Your Own or apprenticeship initiatives