The persistent shortage of qualified teachers remains a significant obstacle, particularly in bridging the achievement gap between students from affluent and disadvantaged backgrounds. The definition of a teacher shortage varies by country, ranging from educators teaching subjects outside their expertise to unfilled teaching positions. As these shortages continue, particularly in high-need urban areas and subjects like mathematics, science, and special education, alternative pathways to teaching have become increasingly crucial in some countries.

The scale of the problem is substantial. In 2023, the United States faced over 55,000 teacher vacancies across all grade levels from kindergarten through high school. Looking ahead, New York City Public Schools alone will need to recruit an estimated 18,000 teachers in the next five years. The issue extends beyond national borders. According to a recent 2024 UNESCO report, the global education system is projected to face a shortage of 44 million teachers by 2030. This staggering figure underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the growing demand for qualified educators worldwide.

This paper addresses the following questions:
1. What are the results of implementing alternative pathways to teaching in the New York City public school system?
2. How do we ensure a sustainable, high quality teaching workforce on a national and global scale in the wake of extensive teacher shortages?

Preliminary findings of our exploratory study indicate that teacher retention for two of the alternative pathways to teaching in New York City is at 82% for the period 2022 - present. Further, a review of the literature reveals that different nations face unique challenges, however, there are common threads in successful approaches. Participants reading our paper and/or reviewing our virtual presentation should be motivated to continue exploring innovative solutions to address the projected teacher shortages in their respective geographical contexts.

Keywords: Global Teacher Shortages, Alternative Pathways to Teaching, Sustainable Teacher Preparation, Teaching Fellowships, Teacher Residencies, Teacher Apprenticeships.