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2026 National Be A Teacher Day:
Student Perspectives on Careers in Education

The National Be A Teacher Day Coalition, led by Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), is gathering input from students across the nation to better understand how students view careers in education, what influences their career interests, and what may encourage or discourage them from considering the education profession.

Students do not need to be a member of FCCLA or any Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) to participate. All students across the nation in grades 6-12 are encouraged to complete this brief survey.

Responses will help the National Be A Teacher Day Coalition identify national trends, better understand student perspectives, and strengthen efforts to inspire the next generation of educators.
1.What grade are you currently in? Select one.(Required.)
2.In what state or U.S. territory do you currently attend school?(Required.)
3.Which type of community best describes where you attend school? Select one.(Required.)
4.Which Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) are you currently a member of?
Select all that apply. You do not need to be a member of a CTSO to complete this survey.(Required.)
5.Have you ever considered becoming a teacher or pursuing another career in education? As in any career connected to teaching, learning, schools, or education.(Required.)
6.Which education careers or teaching areas are you most interested in pursuing?
Select all that apply. You may choose more than one grade level, subject area, or education profession that interests you.(Required.)
7.Has a teacher, school administrator, counselor, or other educator ever encouraged you to consider a career in education?(Required.)
8.Who, if anyone, has encouraged you to become a teacher or pursue another career in education? Select all that apply. This could include someone directly encouraging you to consider education or suggesting that a career in education could be a good fit for you.(Required.)
9.Has an adult ever discouraged you from becoming a teacher or pursuing another career in education, including suggesting that you choose a different career? This could include parents or guardians, family members, educators, counselors, coaches, mentors, or other adults who may have influenced your career decisions.(Required.)
10.Who, if anyone, has discouraged you from becoming a teacher or pursuing another career in education? Select all that apply. This could include someone directly telling you not to pursue education or suggesting that you choose a different career.(Required.)
11.What makes, or could make, a career in education appealing to you?
Select all that apply, whether or not you are currently considering a career in education.(Required.)
12.What concerns, if any, would make you less likely to pursue a career in education? Select all that apply.(Required.)
13.Before taking this survey, were you aware that careers in education include many opportunities beyond becoming a classroom teacher? Education careers can include areas such as counseling, school administration, early childhood education, special education, Career and Technical Education, school psychology, and other professions.(Required.)
14.Which of the following opportunities to explore teaching or education careers are available through your school or community?
Select all that apply. Select an opportunity if you know it is available to students, even if you have not personally participated in it or are not currently interested in an education career.(Required.)
15.Would having more opportunities to experience teaching or education careers firsthand make you and/or your peers more likely to consider a career in education?
Experiences could include tutoring, mentoring, classroom activities, job shadowing, internships, college visits, or opportunities to learn directly from educators.(Required.)
16.Before completing this survey, were you aware that schools across the United States are experiencing teacher shortages?(Required.)
17.Have teacher shortages affected your school experience in any of the following ways?
Select all that apply based on your own experience. You may select an option even if you were not told directly that a teacher shortage was the reason.(Required.)
18.What is one thing you wish adults understood about how students your age view careers in education?

Share anything you think educators, families, schools, colleges, or education leaders should know about what influences students when they think about becoming an educator.(Required.)
19.What is one thing you think needs to change for more students your age to seriously consider becoming a teacher or pursuing another career in education?

Think about what would make education careers more appealing, realistic, or worth considering for students today. Responses may be considered for use anonymously in National Be A Teacher Day communications, media outreach, and promotional materials.(Required.)
20.In your own words, why do you think teaching and other careers in education matter, and what could make a career in education worth considering for students like you?

Please share one or two sentences about what stands out to you about the role educators play, what makes the profession meaningful, or what could make an education career appealing to students. You do not need to be personally interested in pursuing a career in education to respond. Responses may be considered for use anonymously in National Be A Teacher Day communications, media outreach, and promotional materials.(Required.)
21.Thinking about your own experience, please share 1-2 sentences about a current or past educator who has made a positive impact on your life.

You do not need to share the educator’s name, but please include the grade level or subject they taught in your response. We would love to hear what they did, how they supported or encouraged you, and the difference their actions made in your life. Responses may be considered for use anonymously in National Be A Teacher Day communications, media outreach, and promotional materials.(Required.)