Radford University helps address Virginia’s teacher shortage through targeted licensure support

Virginia school divisions continue to face a significant teacher shortage. Currently, more than 8,000 educators in the commonwealth hold provisional licenses, nearly 10% of the teaching workforce. While these educators are actively serving in classrooms, they have not yet completed all requirements for full professional licensure.

To help close this gap, Radford University launched a targeted scholarship initiative to support provisionally licensed teachers in completing their licensure requirements. From November through April, the university offered $750 scholarships to teachers enrolling in required professional studies coursework.

The response exceeded expectations. Demand was so strong that available scholarship funds were fully awarded a month ahead of schedule.

“When word spread that Radford was offering scholarships, teachers and school division leaders jumped at the opportunity,” said Lea Monday, Provisional to Professional Pathway coordinator for the College of Education and Human Development at Radford University.

District leaders quickly encouraged participation.

“Lea told us about this limited-time opportunity, and I had three teachers register quickly after our Zoom meeting, one enrolling the same day,” said Lindsey Edmonds from Carroll County Public Schools.

As of Feb. 1, more than 50 teachers have enrolled in courses through the program. Many participants register for multiple classes, maximizing both the scholarship support and discounted tuition rates.

For many teachers, the financial support made a decisive difference.

“This scholarship was what I needed to finish my license, and with the cost savings, I will now earn my master’s degree as well,” said Brooke Lawson, Wythe County Public Schools kindergarten teacher.

By investing in practicing educators already serving in classrooms, Radford University is helping school divisions retain teachers, strengthen instructional quality and move more educators toward full professional licensure. Rob Graham, superintendent of Pulaski County Public Schools, noted that the partnership with the Provisional to Professional Pathway helped the division begin the year fully staffed for the first time in many years.

The scholarship was so successful that the university is working to make the offering a permanent part of its budget, to be voted on in March by the Board of Visitors.