Superintendent Barresi
urges legislative approval
of efforts to remedy
teacher shortage
Teacher pay raise, added professional development are among task force proposals
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 12, 2014) – State Superintendent of
Public Instruction Janet Barresi is pushing for state legislators to approve a
$2,000 teacher pay raise as part of a comprehensive effort to combat a teacher
shortage throughout Oklahoma. The proposal is among several recommendations from
the Oklahoma Educator Workforce Shortage Task Force, which Superintendent Barresi
established last year.
“Nothing is more important
than giving Oklahoma’s future generations the opportunities that come with a
great education, and that requires great teachers. Attracting and keeping
first-rate teachers is a serious challenge when they can receive better
compensation elsewhere,” said Barresi.
“Some of our teachers have
children on free- or reduced-price lunches. Too many of Oklahoma’s best and
brightest reject the teaching profession altogether — or wind up leaving the
classroom — because of meager pay. Before Oklahoma can move forward with
teacher differential pay, it is important that we make sure teacher salaries
are even competitive.”
In the wake of an alarming
teacher shortage throughout Oklahoma, Barresi last year convened a task force
comprised of various stakeholders, including legislators; teachers; school
administrators; and representatives of the business community, higher education
and CareerTech. Task force members examined how best to attract and retain high-quality
teachers in Oklahoma public schools.
Barresi is urging lawmakers
to approve House Bill 2966, authored by state Rep. Ann Coody, which proposes an
increase of $2,000 to the state minimum salary schedule for teachers. In
addition, the lawmaker has authored HB 2967, which provides a tax credit for
space in a teacher’s home that is used for work purposes.
“It has been a long time
since our teachers have received a raise and I believe it is very important
that they receive a raise,” Coody said. “Of course, we know that we’re short on
state money again this year, but a teacher pay raise is a big goal of mine.”
Barresi is also supportive
of another task force recommendation aimed at making it easier for retired
teachers to return to the classroom without compromising their benefits.
Senate Bill 2118, introduced
by Sen. Ron Sharp, would facilitate retired teachers returning to the
profession.
“With the current teacher
shortage, this is aimed at getting qualified teachers back in the classroom,”
said Sharp, a veteran educator. “It addresses some of the issues that have
prompted some teachers to get out of the system, so we are optimistic this will
have a positive impact.”
Key recommendations from the
task force include:
- Replicate the Educator
Supply and Demand Study (last completed in 2001-2002) perhaps every three to
five years. Use the results to identify areas of shortage and apply the
recommendations made within this document to the areas of most critical need
where it does not make sense to apply the recommendations more broadly.
- Develop a paid
internship with significant mentorship and support for teacher candidates from
traditional and alternative routes while completing their program and/or
certification requirements. This could include replacing the traditional
student-teaching experience with a multi-semester internship emphasizing
co-teaching and other supports.
- Provide flexibility
to the Oklahoma State Board of Education to certify traditionally prepared
teacher candidates through alternative pathways on a case-by-case basis when
unusual and/or extreme circumstances arise.
- Allow districts to
develop local policies that provide opportunities for retired educators to
return to the education profession without loss of retirement benefits.
- Reinstate the
Teacher Residency Program, or offer a modified form of support, mentorship, and
coaching for new teachers (including alternatively certified teachers) and
those with professional growth needs. Consider current research on mentorship
when making modifications to the Teacher Residency Program.
- Provide
opportunities for teacher career advancement, such as mentor/master teachers,
teacher coaches, and instructional leaders, including additional state funds
for stipends paid by districts that implement such strategies.
- In
order to retain effective teachers, there must be additional professional
development related to implementation of current initiatives and reforms.
Without limiting funds provided to districts for discretionary professional
development, target additional state funding for professional development to
statewide academies and competitive grants. Provide research and best practices
to districts in selecting high-quality professional development.
The
entire task force report is posted online at sde.ok.gov.
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