The guide to Nebraska assembled by the Migration Policy Institute shows that, as of 2007-2008, Nebraska had over 20,000 ELLs in its K-12 public schools, nearly 7 percent of the overall school population. While this number is lower than states to the south, east, and west of Nebraska, it is higher than most of the mid-western states. Potentially more significant is that Nebraska’s immigrant population grew 172 percent from ten years prior, implying that the need for ESL, bilingual, and multicultural services has dramatically increased.
Nebraska’s ESL Teaching Career Prospects
The Teacher Shortage Areas Nationwide Listing, compiled by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education, shows that Nebraska has identified English as a Second Language as a shortage area off and on since 1990, but not since 2012. That said, the related areas of Language Arts, World Language, and Foreign Languages have all made the list between 2012 and 2014, indicating that related curricular areas are still available for teachers interested in literacy and language education. These facts suggest that Nebraska’s ESL job market may make it somewhat more difficult for specialists in ESL or bilingual education to find opportunities.
Nebraska Education Job Boards
- Several public school districts in the state are represented by The Greater Nebraska Schools Hiring Consortium, a website that posts openings for teachers, administrators, support staff, program coordinators, substitutes, and other school personnel.
- Teach in Nebraska is an official state government website that advertises education jobs with openings sorted by region and job title.
- The Lincoln Career Services at the University of Nebraska maintains a Web page dedicated to Education Job Listings, with links to state, national, and international resources.
TESOL Resources in Nebraska
- Rather than have its own state affiliate of the international TESOL association, Nebraska is part of Mid-America Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (MIDTESOL).
- NE Reads promotes literacy throughout Nebraska with professional development, conferences, and dissemination of information and resources.
- NDE’s Loan Forgiveness for Teachers Web page describes its financial incentives for teachers dedicated to working in the state’s high-need schools or in teacher shortage areas.