Facebook Joins TEACH and Ad Council to Launch On and Offline Campaign Recruiting the Nation's Top Talent to Become Teachers

NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Half of our nation's teachers will be eligible to retire over the next decade, yet less than 10 percent of students in the top-third of their class consider teaching to be a viable profession. In an effort to recruit top talent to become teachers, Make More, a social good campaign on behalf of TEACH and the Ad Council, is partnering with Facebook's Creative Shop to launch a public service campaign "daring" college students and young adults to consider the teaching profession.  

"Teaching is such a fascinating, rewarding profession, and many people don't realize how much opportunity there is for innovation, personal fulfillment, and professional development in the field," said Zachary Levine, Executive Director of TEACH. "We're excited to bring that opportunity to life through this campaign, to show young people what the future of a teacher really looks like."

Education is one of the fastest growing careers.  About 1.7 million K-12 public school teaching jobs will open nationwide over the next 10 years, and education is projected to be 17 percent of all job openings in 2020. And research shows that a child who learns from a top teacher is more successful, earning more over the course of a lifetime. One study estimates that merely replacing a low-performing teacher with an average one would increase students' lifetime income by approximately $250,000 per classroom.¹

"Our society depends on the next generation of teachers, but we have steep barriers and deep-rooted perceptions to overcome before convincing our very best students to consider the profession," said Lisa Sherman, Ad Council President and CEO. "Our work with Facebook allows us to target these young adults, reaching them during a stage in which they are deciding their futures and careers, and show them that teaching can be personally gratifying."

The new round of creative, developed by Facebook's Creative Shop, includes print, and digital public service ads (PSAs). Iterations running on Facebook--including video and carousel ads—will leverage the platform's detailed targeting capabilities to directly reach college students and recent graduates who have demonstrated and interest in STEM subjects. The PSAs showcase the potential teachers have for affecting the world around them with students daring young adults "to change the world…to be a role model, an inspiration, and an innovator."  

As technology and science job sectors grow, there is a specific need for top talent in key subject areas such as science, technology, engineering, and math. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that there will be approximately 120,000 new job openings in the U.S. each year requiring at least a bachelor's degree in computer science. In order to fill this need, STEM education must be strengthened at both the K-12 as well as post-secondary levels—an undertaking that will require high-achieving STEM teachers.

TEACH is a collaboration among the U.S. Department of Education, leading U.S. companies including Microsoft, national education organizations and teacher associations.  The goal of TEACH is to Elevate the national perception of teaching and establish teaching as a competitive career choice for top students.

Students who encounter the campaign's PSAs are encouraged to visit TEACH.org where they can watch inspiring content from real teachers and access an interactive tool illustrating the different requirements and pathways to becoming a teacher, depending on their education, location and interests. It also connects students with information about certification for various teaching jobs.

Per the Ad Council model, PSAs are distributed to media outlets nationwide and run and air in advertising time and space donated by the media. To view the PSAs and learn how teachers Make More, visit www.TEACH.org.

¹http://rajchetty.com/chettyfiles/w19424.pdf

TEACH
Half of America's teachers will be eligible to retire over the next decade. We have an urgent need and unprecedented opportunity to drive the transformation of K-12 education by encouraging and empowering our nation's most talented students to teach. TEACH is leading the movement to recruit the next generation of teachers by redefining the profession as a top career choice. This public-private partnership includes the U.S. Department of Education, leading U.S. companies including Microsoft, education organizations and teacher associations. To learn more, visit www.TEACH.org, like us at Facebook.com/TEACH.org or follow us on Twitter @TEACHorg, Instagram @TEACHorg, and Tumblr (teachorg.tumblr.com/).

The Ad Council
The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshaling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has affected, and continues to affect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org, like us on Facebook.com/adcouncil, follow us on Twitter @adcouncil or view our PSAs on YouTube.

SOURCE The Ad Council

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