In a surprising twist, a growing number of Gen Z graduates are choosing to enter the teaching profession, despite long-standing concerns over low pay and challenging working conditions. This shift is being driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact and connect with students on a deeper level.
Teach For America (TFA), a non-profit education organization, has seen a remarkable 43% increase in its teaching fellows, known as “corps members,” over the past three years. According to Whitney Petersmeyer, TFA’s chief growth and program officer, this generation, whose formative years were spent in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, is “craving human connection and experiences that feel real,” and teaching is the perfect outlet for that.
One such example is Joseph Curatolo, a 22-year-old who was studying architecture before a summer job teaching music to middle school students inspired him to switch his career path. “The fact that I had such an impact on these kids led me to reconsider my career,” he said. Curatolo is now a seventh- and eighth-grade social studies teacher in New York City.
Luke Van De Vijver, a 23-year-old third-grade math teacher in Fairfax, Virginia, also discovered his passion for teaching through a part-time job as a classroom monitor, helping students transition from online to in-person learning after the pandemic lockdown. “You hear a lot of negative things about education, and if it’s worth it or not,” he said. “But just making an impact, and the sense of community I felt in the elementary school system, made me realize that this job is going to work out.”
These new arrivals in the classroom are bringing a fresh perspective, according to Randi Weingarten, president of the American Teachers Federation. “They’re reimagining how we teach, bringing new approaches to technology and social-emotional learning,” she said.
However, the teaching profession is not without its challenges. Educators have had to grapple with issues such as low pay, high burnout rates, and the threat of gun violence in schools. Gabriella Sheffler, a 25-year-old sixth- and seventh-grade social studies teacher in San Diego, California, expressed her concerns, saying, “It’s scary when you wake up and see headlines like, ‘Department of Education’s going away’, and gun violence being a major threat in American schools, and what that means for us.”
Despite these obstacles, Gen Z teachers remain committed to making a difference in their students’ lives. As Weingarten noted, “Gen Z educators are choosing the classroom because they believe in making a difference in our students’ lives. If we want this generation to stay and lead, and we do, we must meet their commitment with fair wages, respect, and the professional support they deserve.”