Is passion enough to teach? In this powerful episode, Dr. Jacob Kirksey—Assistant Professor of Education Policy at Texas Tech University—reveals research on the rise of uncertified teachers (56% of new teachers in Texas are uncertified) and the real cost to student learning. Discover why teacher training matters more than ever and how we can fix the broken pipeline in education.

💼 Sponsor Message: This episode is sponsored by Solution Tree. For over 25 years, Solution Tree has partnered with schools and districts to deliver research-driven professional development that helps teachers turn their passion into real progress for their students. 👉 See the results they’ve helped schools achieve at SolutionTree.com/10MinuteTeacher

🧠 Highlights of this episode include: • The Cost of Uncertified Teachers: Students lose 3–4 months of learning in a single year when taught by uncertified teachers. • Impact on Dyslexia Diagnosis: Early learners are significantly less likely to be diagnosed correctly when taught by uncertified educators. • Veteran Teachers Under Strain: Certified teachers are absorbing the load—facing burnout, pacing gaps, and unfair support burdens.

🔗 Episode Page: www.coolcatteacher.com/e890

🎧 Love the show? Don’t miss an episode — subscribe, leave a review, and share with a fellow educator!