Ohio, like much of the nation, is facing a critical shortage of teachers—especially at the secondary level. Addressing this challenge requires more than recruitment campaigns; it calls for intentional, early investments that help students see themselves as future educators. Project EDUCATE, a partnership between Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and Washington Local Schools, offers a powerful example of what this approach can look like in practice.
Designed as a two-year program for high school juniors and seniors, Project EDUCATE immerses students in authentic teaching experiences long before they enter a college classroom. Participants design lesson plans, work alongside practicing teachers, and engage in classroom immersion experiences that reveal the realities—and rewards—of the profession. The program also integrates Life Design and design-thinking principles, encouraging students to reflect on their values, interests, and aspirations and how those align with a career in education.
The impact is tangible. Students report that campus visits and hands-on experiences have helped them better understand how meaningful and fulfilling teaching can be. Educators involved in the program note an increase in applications to BGSU’s education programs from Whitmer High School, along with stronger student confidence and clarity about career direction.
Most compelling are the student voices themselves—stories of young people who once felt uncertain about their future but, through exposure to inspiring teachers and real-world experiences, now see teaching as a way to make a lasting difference in students’ lives.
For Ohio education leaders, Project EDUCATE underscores a clear lesson—when schools, higher education, and targeted funding align around early, intentional career pathways, the educator pipeline grows stronger. Instilling purpose, passion, and possibility early may be one of the most effective strategies Ohio has to ensure a vibrant, sustainable teaching workforce for the future.
Watch this short video to see how Bowling Green State University and Washington Local Schools are intentionally building Ohio’s future educator pipeline through Project EDUCATE—providing high school students with hands-on teaching experiences, meaningful campus connections, and early exposure to the impact and purpose of the profession.