Teacher Certification

Supply and Demand

Teaching is a career in which you can be confident you will always have a purpose. Southwestern University has consistently experienced a high rate of candidate employment. However, TEA requires SU to inform candidates that in districts along the I-35 corridor in Texas, it may be more difficult to secure a teaching position due to the number of teacher preparation programs providing candidates within those educational markers.  

 

Texas Highlights
  • Average Elementary School Teacher Salary: $52,810
  • Average Secondary School Teacher Salary: $53,640
  • Student/Teacher Ratio: 15.40
Teacher salaries are provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2015 Occupational Employment Statistics External link report.
Teacher Shortage Areas

A teacher shortage area is defined by the U.S. Department of Education External link as “an area of specific grade, subject matter or discipline classification, or a geographic area in which…there is an inadequate supply of elementary or secondary school teachers.” 

Teacher Shortage Areas and Loan Forgiveness Programs

 

Texas Shortages by Academic Disciplines of Subject Matter (’22-’23)
  • Bilingual/ESL (Elementary, Secondary)
  • Career and Technical Education (Secondary)
  • Computer Science/Technology Applications
  • Mathematics (Secondary)
  • Science (Secondary)
  • Special Education (Elementary, Secondary)
  • English Language Arts and Reading (Elementary, Secondary)