The teacher talent pipeline for rural districts: A systems analysis of inter-organizational relations

A crippling shortage of teachers exists in the United States with rural schools historically among those most impacted. In 2017, the Texas Education Agency established a grant program to address the perennial hiring needs of rural districts. Systems theory was used to analyze partnerships between rural school districts and university-based teacher preparation programs involved in the grant. Interview data was collected from representatives of partnered rural districts and university-based teacher preparation programs. Analyses revealed areas of collaboration and positive relations, but an almost complete lack of systems that would contribute to the construction of a sustainable pipeline of teacher talent for rural schools. The findings have implications for how a teacher talent pipeline can be created and pitfalls to avoid.