‘It just doesn’t make sense’
Tired of not being able to secure permanent position, teacher moving to Northwest Territories to teach
Samantha Hicks is passionate about teaching, but 10 years into her career and with no permanent position in sight, she has made the difficult decision to leave this province to teach in the Northwest Territories.
Hicks, 36, said she doesn’t want to go, but she can’t wait any longer for a permanent position and the financial stability that would bring.
Hicks said the problem lies in the way teaching positions are filled, based on the qualifications of candidates but with no consideration for experience.
'PASSION FOR HELPING OTHERS'
Originally from Codroy Valley, Hicks always knew she wanted to be a teacher.
“I always had such a passion for helping others. I really wanted to make a difference and just be really a part of the school community,” she said.
She has spent the last 10 years teaching on the east coast of the island.
“Substituting and replacing from school to school to school from St. John’s right to Avondale," she said.
She has a degree in education with a major in physical education and a minor in English.
When she started her career, she found herself being put into the classroom to teach more than in the gymnasium.
“Because when they need you, they’ll put you there, but they won’t give you a job there.”
'DOESN’T MAKE SENSE'
She has taught English, math, social studies and home economics, and has worked as an instructional resource teacher.
Hicks said she’s had incredible experiences at the schools she’s taught at and even stayed at one school, Roncalli Central High in Avondale, substituting and filling replacement positions for three years.
For her, it was about building relationships and connecting with the school community.
“But I’m not qualified to get any positions unless I have a major in those jobs. So, it depends on the course that you have in university, not your experience,” said Hicks.
“It just doesn’t make sense to me. So, somebody who just gets out of school, who has an English major, will get an English job over me. Any English job, because I only have an English minor, but yet I have 10 years’ experience teaching in that.
“Just because I don’t have the four extra English courses in university to give me the major status, I’m not qualified to teach it, but I’ve taught it."
EXPERIENCE DOESN'T COUNT
In 2023, she applied for a half-time permanent position in physical education and English.
Hicks was excited because it was a permanent position, but at the interview she learned it had been turned into a replacement position because they wanted someone with a major in both areas, but no one with those qualifications applied.
She said it wasn’t always like this, as experience in courses outside a person’s teachable area once counted.
She knows of many teachers who are in the same position trying to get permanent status and who for 16 years and more have been moving from school to school.
“Just waiting to get permanent and they can’t get permanent because of the way of the
nd teachable system.”
TEACHER SHORTAGE?
When she heard discussions about a teacher shortage in this province and saw Nlschools advertise that it had over 250 permanent teaching positions open across the province, Hicks was sickened and spoke out on social media.
She has looked at the available jobs, and says there are only about four that she could apply and be considered for.
Instead of facing the same thing she has year after year, Hicks decided to leave the province. Starting in August, she will teach Grade 5 and 6 at a small school in the Northwest Territories.
“I wouldn’t even be thought of for a position like that in Newfoundland,” she said.
'IT’S THE SYSTEM'
Leaving the province has nothing to do with the work or the people she works with, she says.
“I love teaching. It’s not about my experience in teaching, it’s just about how hard it is to get that consistency. Just every year, the stress and anxiety of trying to get a job. It’s honestly taking over the mental health of educators,” said Hicks.
“It’s the system. If the system was more aligned to suit, to fit to fill the positions, then you wouldn’t have people struggling and having to leave when they’re pushing 40 years old,” she said.
Hicks is excited to make the move and is looking to the future, financial stability, getting her master’s degree in instructional resource teaching and returning to teach in Newfoundland.
Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association (NLTA) president Trent Langdon was not available for an interview on Wednesday, May 1.
In a statement provided by email, the NLTA said it engages with the employers on issues related to hiring, including concerns related to the employers’ assessment of qualifications in relation to particular teaching positions.
“However, these tend to be very individualized, fact specific situations, both in relation to an applicant's qualifications and the nature of the position in question, and therefore not something we can comment on publicly,” said the statement.
Education Minister Krista Lynn Howell was also not available to speak on Wednesday, and an interview has been scheduled for Friday, May 3.