North Louisiana Is Where The Best Teachers Come From

North Louisiana is home to amazing schools, and two of those schools are officially prime breeding grounds for exceptional educators. A recent report from a national nonprofit confirms that both Louisiana Tech University and the University of Louisiana Monroe have earned an impressive A+ grade for their teacher prep programs. This report is a sign that the brightest minds of the future will be shaped by the next generation of teachers from our community.

The nonprofit and nonpartisan group National Council on Teacher Quality states its mission is to "ensure every child has an effective teacher," and the key to creating effective teachers is right here in North Louisiana. LA Tech and ULM are just two of four schools in the U.S. that NCTQ gave an A+ rating for their education programs. Half of the very best teacher preparation programs are located right here in the 318 area of Louisiana. This report proves that graduates from these universities will be the best prepared to inspire and foster the next generation.

For everyone in the region, this is great news. Schools that attract lots of locals from the area will yield better educators in North Louisiana going forward. The classrooms of the future will likely be more prepared than ever, with educators who earned their degree from one of these A+ institutions.

The success of LA Tech and ULM's programs solidifies that North Louisiana will be in safe hands, but the next challenge will be keeping those new bright minds in the state. It's undeniable that these teachers will be incredibly equipped, but with Louisiana's known brain drain issue still unsolved, there's no promise that these teachers will want to stay. What steps can we take to ensure North Louisiana keeps these educators?