NEA Resources

Encouraging Students to Consider Teaching

Two programs that encourage students to consider teaching - Future Teachers of America and Future Educators of America - were originally started by the National Education Association.  Established in the twentieth century, they continue to serve students and the teaching profession to this day.

To find out more about the programs, download a brochure that describes the programs, explains why NEA believes more affiliates should offer them, spells out the steps for establishing a program, and tells how to get help in doing so.
Future Teachers Programs (2006) (  PDF, 648 KB, 12pp)

For more information call or write to:

National Education Association, Teacher Quality, 1201 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036-3290
202-822-7350

Erin Young, Phi Delta Kappa International, P.O. Box 789, Bloomington, IN 47402-0789
1-800-766-1156, ext. 2252
Future Educators Association

Increasing the Number of Minority Teachers

The necessity for teacher diversity is often overlooked. High-stakes tests impede efforts to expand the pool of prospective teachers of color. And the logistics of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) continue to create significant barriers to recruiting teachers of color.

These are some of the conclusions from an analysis on teacher diversity prepared by the National Collaborative on Diversity in the Teaching Force. In its report, Assessment of Diversity in America's Teaching Force, the Collaborative examined the relationship between educational achievement and teacher diversity, and found that increasing the percentage of teachers of color in classrooms is connected directly to closing the achievement gap of students.
Assessment of Diversity in America’s Teaching Force (2004) (  PDF, 512KB, 16 pp)

The Collaborative is composed of NEA and five other leading education groups: 
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE)
American Council on Education (ACE)
Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) 
Community Teachers Institute (CTI)
Recruiting New Teachers (RNT)

Helping New Teachers Succeed

NEA Guide helps local NEA affiliates set up new teacher support systems, is full of advice to welcome teachers into the profession.
A Better Beginning: Helping New Teachers Survive and Thrive  

Guide to Understanding the National Board Certification Process

If you are considering becoming a candidate for National Board Certification, check out A Guide To Understanding National Board Certification: 2008-2009 Candidacy Cycle, a joint project of NEA and AFT (American Federation of Teachers). This publication, intended to complement the materials provided by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, capitalizes on the experiences of those who have already earned this credential. It includes tips for staying organized, creating a schedule, understanding the National Board standards, assembling your portfolio, creating your videotapes, and documenting your accomplishments.
A Guide To Understanding National Board Certification: 2008-2009 Candidacy Cycle (  PDF, 4.7 MB, 72pp) 

NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education

How do you build public support for teachers' professional development? The support of parents, businesses, educators and the community is crucial in order to sustain high-quality professional development. Engaging Public Support for Teachers' Professional Development an issue brief from the NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education (NFIE), offers practical approaches to the challenge.
Engaging Public Support for Teachers' Professional Development

NEA Professional Library

Six NEA Professional Library books are designed especially for first-year teachers. They include tips, forms, checklists, sample lesson plans, and the shared experiences of other teachers -- practical help that can get first-year teachers through the hardest year of their teaching careers.

The First-Year Teacher by Karen Bosch and Katharine Kersey for K-8 teachers.

Countdown to the First Day of School by Leo M. Schell and Paul Burden.

Pitfalls and Potholes: A Checklist for Avoiding Common Mistakes of Beginning Teachers by Barbara A. Murray and Kenneth T. Murray.

Bright Ideas: A Pocket Mentor for Beginning Teachers by Mary C. Clement.

State Affiliates

A new teacher licensure process is being implemented in Wisconsin with the direct involvement of the state's teachers.
Wisconsin's New Teacher Licensure Process