Searching for the Next Generation of Teacher Educators: Assessing the Success of Academic Searches

In light of a documented shortage of candidates for teacher education faculty positions, this article explores the academic labor market for teacher education faculty using job announcements from the Chronicle of Higher Education and a survey of search chairs to examine the qualifications sought. The authors conclude that the demand for teacher educators is high and the pool of qualified candidates in less than adequate in terms of number of applicants as well as quality. Ads at all types of institutions favored generalists with a terminal degree and K-12 teaching experience, with research universities predictably searching for research experience. The authors discuss implications of various elements of the search process for schools and colleges of education.