By Laurel White
Erika Silva-Singh and Maddy Rauls had two very different paths to teaching, but neither would have been possible without the UW–Madison School of Education Wisconsin Teacher Pledge.
The program that pays the equivalent of in-state tuition and fees, testing, and licensing costs for students in UW–Madison’s teacher education programs has been extended through the 2028-29 academic year, thanks to $8 million in new donor support.
That kind of support was what made both Silva-Singh, a single mom and non-traditional student originally from Peru, and Rauls, a Wisconsinite who set her sights on teaching as an undergraduate, able to pursue their dreams.
“The last thing you want if you are going to become a teacher is to worry about getting into a lot of debt,” says Silva-Singh. “The Teacher Pledge was huge and gave me the peace of mind to pursue becoming a teacher.”
Rauls worked as a daycare provider when she started school, hoping to keep the tide of student loans at bay. When she learned about the Teacher Pledge, she felt like a burden was lifted.
“Before the Teacher Pledge came around, I was really worried about how much debt I was going to have to take on to finish school,” she says. “Taking the Teacher Pledge was a no-brainer. It was a huge relief.”
Under the program, students receive the equivalent of in-state tuition and fees, testing, and licensing costs in exchange for pledging to teach in any public or private school in Wisconsin for at least four years — or three years in high-need subject areas or school districts.
As of spring 2024, 773 students have taken the Teacher Pledge. Of those, 354 are already teaching in 88 public school districts and 14 private schools across Wisconsin. And the new funding promises to give hope to even more future Wisconsin educators.
“When I first heard about the Teacher Pledge I thought, ‘This is doable!’,” Silva-Singh recalls. “I want to inspire my students. I hope to one day share a message with my students that you can truly achieve what you want if you get the right support. You just need to find the right people and the right institutions, and I have that here at UW-Madison.”
Generous donors make Teacher Pledge extension possible
The entirely donor-funded Teacher Pledge launched in the fall of 2020. The program is dedicated to strengthening Wisconsin’s educator workforce by incentivizing more students to enroll in UW–Madison’s Teacher Education programs, increasing the number of graduates who stay in Wisconsin to teach, and providing supports so graduates stay with teaching longer, among other goals.
The Teacher Pledge was originally scheduled to run for five years. In March 2022, it was extended one year. In March 2023, a generous gift from Susan and James Patterson extended the initiative through 2026-27. The latest extension, thanks to major support from Mary and Ted Kellner, takes the program through the 2028-29 academic year.
To date, $33.3 million in private funds have been given to support the Teacher Pledge.
“I would like to thank the Kellners and all of our donors for their ongoing support of the Teacher Pledge and their dedication to helping so many of our students pursue their goal of becoming a teacher,” says School of Education Dean Diana Hess.
This work is vital at a time when a nationwide teacher shortage continues to generate headlines and frustrate policymakers in search of solutions. A new report released in April by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction found Wisconsin educators continue to leave the state’s workforce “at an alarming rate” and that the retention of teachers is a “significant issue that needs to be addressed.”
“I know how difficult teaching can be, especially when you are getting started,” says Hess, who began her education career as a high school social studies teacher in Downers Grove, Illinois, in 1979. “If teachers work in the classroom for three or four years, we believe they will gain confidence in their abilities, better enjoy the important work they are doing with students, and stick with the profession longer.”
UW–Madison Professor Nick Hillman, who directs the university’s Student Success Through Applied Research (SSTAR) Lab, is leading efforts to evaluate and research the Teacher Pledge. Hillman and his team are working to see if the program can aid efforts around Wisconsin and across the nation to build a stronger teacher workforce.
So far, students who take the Teacher Pledge are reporting benefits that include a reduced need for outside work so they can focus on full-time student teaching, less student debt, and improved mental health due to decreased financial stress.
“We’re working hard to support educators and the teaching profession,” says Hess, who leads the nation’s No. 1-ranked school of education. “We’ve been developing a proof of concept with the Teacher Pledge program — and hopefully what we learn from these efforts here in Wisconsin has the potential to be a model for the entire state and beyond.”
In addition to the Teacher Pledge, the School of Education is committed to supporting educators well beyond their time on campus. This summer, from July 29 to Aug. 1, the School is hosting its third annual Early Career Teaching Institute (ECTI). ECTI is a professional development opportunity on campus specifically designed for alumni with at least one year of teaching experience.
The institute provides a $500 stipend and also covers up to three nights of room expenses. Teachers in the multi-day program engage with educators in similar roles and subject areas, participate in enriching group learning experiences, learn from nationally renowned keynote speakers, and take time to connect or reconnect with faculty, staff, and fellow alumni through meals and social events.
Opportunities like ECTI are vital. Research shows when beginning teachers are well-supported through strong coaching and mentorship opportunities — and are connected to robust professional communities for young teachers — they stay in the profession longer. In 2023, ECTI drew more than 100 attendees. More than half of those attendees were Teacher Pledge alumni.
The School of Education is also home to the Mary T. Kellner Teacher Education Center, which serves as a home for developing and implementing research-based and high-quality teacher education practices and policies. The center also provides leadership and support for the School of Education’s 15 teacher preparation programs, coordinates partnerships with local school districts, and serves as a liaison to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, among other state and national partners.
Teacher Pledge backing hundreds of new Wisconsin educators
Maddy Rauls is thrilled to finally be teaching in her own classroom.
A fourth grade teacher at Arboretum Elementary in Waunakee, Rauls says she “dove right in” as a new educator.
“I’m so grateful to be doing something I love every day, working with awesome students and other amazing educators,” she says.
Erika Silva-Singh is looking forward to following in Rauls’ footsteps to the front of a classroom very soon.
Silva-Singh, who grew up speaking Spanish, is pursuing certification that will allow her to teach kindergarten through ninth grade, and English as a second language (ESL) in grades K-12. She plans to graduate in the fall of 2025.
Silva-Singh says she is excited to be in a position to help bilingual students realize their potential in the education system.
“As an immigrant who is Hispanic, I’ll be in a position to help others with similar backgrounds overcome their hardships and follow their dreams,” she says. “The financial support from the Teacher Pledge program is really helping make all of this possible.”