Teacher shortage fix: Ask a teacher

Re the Jan. 19 online op-ed “Achieve Miami taking a lead to help solve public schools’ damaging teacher shortage:” Although I applaud the efforts and intentions of Achieve Miami, like many others, it misses the mark on what is necessary to improve student achievement. Schools do not operate in a vacuum.

They are only a part of a student’s life. Failure to address the whole student within their environment only has a limited impact.

Student achievement is dependent on many factors. Poverty exposes students and their families to food and housing insecurity along with crime and violence within their neighborhoods. Parents want to be part of their child’s education but some may be working several low wage jobs. Achieve Miami has made a laudable attempt to mitigate this problem by providing a mentoring program for elementary students.

While quality educators can make a significant positive impact on a student’s life, outside organizations fail to find out why such teachers are leaving the profession. The reasons behind mass resignations and retirements differ around the nation, and I hope school districts would be curious as to why they are losing employees, particularly in high needs schools.

Most new teachers are being educated in the community colleges. Miami-Dade College would probably be a more fertile ground for a longterm solution to recruitment.

Transformational education leaders must speak truth to power without fear of retribution. They must also be dedicated to the welfare of children and staff.

There is one group of experts who have a better idea of how to retain teachers, recruit future teachers and improve our schools and student achievement. Would someone please ask the teachers?