BUFFALO, NY – New York ranks among the top 10 states in the country to offer the best opportunities for teachers, according to findings released by the personal finance social network WalletHub. The Empire State ranked seventh for teachers, overall.
To identify the teacher-friendliest states in the country, WalletHub analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key dimensions: opportunity and competition, and work environment. WalletHub then identified 18 metrics relevant to the two dimensions. Those metrics included the average starting salaries for teachers in each state and the number of teacher job openings per capita. WalletHub also looked at the average work hours for teachers and the relative safety of different schools.
To complement the rankings, WalletHub asked a panel of experts to weigh in on teacher-related issues. Julie Henry, PhD, professor and chair of teacher education at Canisius University, was asked how local officials can make their state even more attractive to the best teachers.
“Officials can build school systems that nurture teacher autonomy,” replied Henry. “When teachers have choices about curriculum, instructional materials, and instructional approaches, they are motivated and empowered to be problem-solvers who find what works to facilitate learning for their students.”
WalletHub used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Education Association and the National Center for Educational Statistics, to create its rankings.
To learn more about undergraduate and graduate teacher education programs at Canisius, click here.
One of 28 Jesuit universities in the nation, Canisius is the premier private university in Western New York.
