From Chaos to Capacity: Building Sustainable Educator Pipelines in Rural Wisconsin

Learning Presentation
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Handouts

Audience:
This session is primarily designed for:

  • School District Superintendents

  • Building Principals

  • Human Resources Professionals

  • Members of the Board of Education

  • District Leaders involved in recruitment and retention strategies


DESCRIPTION:

‍ ‍Wisconsin teacher and educator licensing has become increasingly complex as districts navigate teacher shortages, emergency licensure, alternative pathways, and evolving workforce demands. For many rural districts, recruiting and retaining qualified educators requires more than filling vacancies—it requires building sustainable systems that support educator development and long-term success.

This session explores the current Wisconsin educator licensing landscape and provides practical strategies for helping districts move from reactive staffing practices to proactive workforce development. Participants will examine the role of emergency licensure, educator preparation programs, mentoring systems, and district-licensure partnerships in developing future educators.

Attendees will leave with actionable recommendations for supporting emergency-licensed teachers, establishing internal licensing infrastructure, creating sustainable educator pipelines, and partnering effectively with universities, CESAs, and other licensure providers. Special attention will be given to the unique opportunities and challenges facing rural schools, including limited applicant pools, staffing shortages, and the need to cultivate local talent.

Designed for superintendents, principals, HR professionals, and district leaders, this session provides a practical framework for addressing educator shortages while maintaining accountability, instructional quality, and equitable access for all students.

Learning Objectives

  • Navigate the Landscape: Understand current Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) regulations and diverse licensure pathways (Experience-Based, Add-On, and District-Sponsored).

  • Strategic Staffing: Transition from reactive hiring to proactive workforce development by building internal licensing infrastructure.

  • Sustainable Pipelines: Identify methods for cultivating local talent through partnerships with Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) and CESAs.

  • Rural Resilience: Address the specific challenges of rural recruitment through mentoring systems and targeted support for emergency-licensed staff.

PRESENTER: Timothy L. Raymond, Ed.D. CESA 7 Licensing Coordinator

Dr. Timothy Raymond serves as the Licensing Coordinator for CESA 7, where he provides comprehensive licensing support to school districts and educational staff across the CESA 7 region and the state of Wisconsin. With deep expertise in DPI regulations and educator preparation, Dr. Raymond assists districts in navigating the complex pathways to licensure, ensuring that rural schools can build and maintain a high-quality workforce.