Press Releases

On Thursday, February 27 at 10:00 a.m., the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, chaired by Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN), will join the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training, chaired by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), in holding a hearing entitled, “Exploring Efforts to Strengthen the Teaching Profession.” The hearing will take place in room 2175 of the Rayburn House Office Building. 

Too often, bureaucratic hurdles, onerous requirements, and outdated mandates stand in the way of attracting talented young educators to the nation’s schools. Higher education institutions also struggle with copious reporting requirements that have little to do with preparing effective teachers for the classroom. 

Fortunately, there is a growing movement to change the status quo and improve teacher preparation programs. State and local education leaders are collaborating with postsecondary institutions to develop and implement innovative reforms that are helping to transform teacher and school leader preparation and revamp educator licensure and certification systems.  

As the committee continues working to strengthen the nation’s K-12 and higher education systems, Thursday’s hearing will provide members an opportunity to discuss efforts to support a new generation of effective educators in the nation’s schools. To learn more about Thursday’s hearing, visit /hearings. 

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WITNESS LIST

Dr. Deborah A. Gist
Commissioner
Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Providence, RI  

Dr. Marcy Singer-Gabella
Professor of the Practice of Education
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Dr. Heather G. Peske 
Associate Commissioner for Educator Quality
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Malden, MA 

Ms. Christina Hall
Co-Founder & Co-Director
Urban Teacher Center
Baltimore, MD