SPECIAL REPORT: Educator recruitment

August 14, 2025August 19, 2025

Landon Robinson (far right) is pictured with other aspiring educators attending the Next Gen Teachers Program, a collaboration between MEA and Wayne State University

Landen Robinson is a rising sophomore in the College of Education at Wayne State University, but he first fell in love with teaching in high school.

Robinson spent two years in a Teacher Cadet program at Lakeview High School in St. Clair Shores, part of the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings. “It was my favorite part of high school,” he said.

The exploratory program gave Robinson broad exposure to the profession, observing a mentor teacher, assisting students in small groups and one-on-one, developing lesson plans, and eventually delivering a lesson he made.

“I got to jump in and teach, and I loved doing it. It’s very cool to have a chance to see the inside before you jump into a profession.”

In addition, Robinson joined the Next Gen Teachers Program — a collaboration between MEA and Wayne State to bring together high schoolers interested in teaching for a two-week summer residency. Robinson participated for two years and served as a resident assistant this summer.

Now he’s taking on a leadership position as president of Wayne State’s chapter of Aspiring Educators of Michigan (AEM) — the student arm of MEA — and paying it forward. “This will be about getting a community together and doing good for each other and the community.”

For our aspiring and early career educators, MEA offers communities for connecting and specialized leadership and learning opportunities. Follow Aspiring Educators of Michigan and Michigan New Educators on Facebook and Instagram to learn how to be a part of it.

From student teaching stipends and future educator scholarships to student loan repayments and Grow Your Own programs, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Legislature have ramped up efforts in recent years to rebuild the new teacher pipeline — work that MEA members, leaders and staff have advocated, implemented and supplemented.

Progress has been made in addressing the state’s educator shortages, but ongoing focus is required on both recruitment and retention to keep moving in the right direction.

Connect with AEM: