Louisiana State University announced on May 1 that its Tiger Teacher Corps program is working to address the statewide teacher shortage, which has left about 1,000 classrooms without certified teachers.
The issue of unfilled teaching positions is significant for the stability and future of education in Louisiana. By preparing more qualified teachers, LSU aims to ensure a consistent and well-supported educational workforce for years to come.
Roland Mitchell, Dean of the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education, said, “The LSU Tiger Teacher Corps is not simply a program—it is a distinction and a leadership pathway for the next generation of educators. At our flagship university, we are redefining what it means to prepare and support future teachers.” He explained that through direct admission, early classroom experiences, financial support, and connections with school leaders and policymakers, students receive investment from day one as they develop into teacher leaders.
The Tiger Teacher Corps (TTC) is open to all declared teacher preparation majors at LSU. The initiative offers coursework, hands-on training in local schools starting as early as the first semester, mentorship from experienced professionals, cohort-based community support across four years at LSU, stipends and scholarships. According to Kaitlyn LaCoste, an aspiring teacher participating in TTC: “Through the program I’ve leaned on my peers for guidance on lesson planning… This support has helped me feel more confident… I no longer feel anxious about standing in front of a class; instead I embrace my role as the teacher I want to be.”
Nichole Bonilla—an LSU graduate who now teaches at her alma mater—said that retaining homegrown teachers provides much-needed stability: “It’s important for Louisiana to grow and retain its own teachers because they understand the local communities… Teachers rooted in Louisiana communities are more likely to stay long term…” She added that without programs like TTC there would likely be deeper shortages and higher turnover.
Ronnie Morris from the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education said such initiatives have contributed to improvements in state education rankings: “Louisiana’s rise from 49th to 32nd nationally in K–12 education over the last five years is unprecedented… If we are going to reach our full potential… we must continue to grow and retain our own teachers.”
Mitchell concluded by saying: “When we invest in teachers we invest in our workforce our communities and our economy. The Tiger Teacher Corps represents one of the most powerful long-term economic development strategies our state can make.”