Area schools scrambling to fill teacher openings as pipeline slows; some blame politics: ‘It’s been a turnoff ’
Teaching candidates moved deliberately down a gauntlet of tables manned by representatives from 29 public and private school districts April 22 inside Indiana University Northwest’s Savannah Center in Gary.
They carried resumes and job dreams to impress schools trying to shore up teaching rosters as Indiana experiences its highest teacher shortage in seven years, according to a survey by the Bayh College of Education at Indiana State University.
ISU’s annual survey showed 96.5% of participating districts reported shortages this year, with the most in math and special education. Last year, 87.5% of districts reported shortages.
Mark Sperling, interim dean of the School of Education at IUN, said traditional freshman enrollment in the education school was down, reflecting a nationwide trend. He said IUN was seeing growth in its transition to teaching program for adults looking to change careers.
As fewer students enter the university pipeline, school districts find themselves turning to substitutes to fill the void, but the COVID-19 pandemic also created a substitute shortage.
Last month, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urged states, universities and school districts to use their American Rescue Plan funds to address the shortage through university residency programs, career pathways and higher salaries.
Sperling blamed the shortages, in part, on the COVID-19 pandemic and an unsettling political atmosphere that some felt targeted teachers.
Indiana lawmakers joined a wave of GOP states writing bills calling for new curricula to restrict the teaching of racism. Hundreds of teachers and others fought back, successfully delivering a rare defeat in the GOP dominated legislature. The pushback takes a toll, though.
Glen Eva Dunham, president of the Indiana Federation of Teachers and Gary Teachers Union, said the GOP effort to dictate curriculum will hurt the recruitment of teachers.
“At the end of day, we think they don’t want public schools anymore. A lot of young and some seasoned teachers are thinking they can’t stay, they’re calling their financial advisers all over the state,” Dunham said last month.
Some teaching hopefuls at IUN recruitment fair were aware of the politics swirling around the profession.
“It’s been a turnoff,” said Madelynn Joseph, of Hebron, a 2017 Kouts High graduate. She said she’s not letting it defer her career plan. “I’ve been working too hard for five years,” said the IUN senior.
Amanda Gemeinhart, a Purdue University Northwest senior and 2017 Chesterton High graduate, is still upbeat. She’s enjoying her student teaching experience at Liberty Elementary in Chesterton.
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. Student teaching confirmed it for me,” she said.
Regan Keating, human resources director for the Duneland School Corp., said prospective teachers are
asking about professional development opportunities and mentorship programs.
She said Duneland hired several new teachers last year as the pandemic lingered.
The district also deployed eight teachers as instructional coaches in each building.
Math and science are typically key spots she hopes to fill.
Reid Amones, executive director of personnel at the Merrillville Community School Corp., said it’s typical for the district to have 40 to 50 openings.
“We have several openings throughout the district. We’re making connections and hope it translates to a hire,” he said.
Private schools were represented at the fair, including three schools in the Diocese of Gary.
Julie Remschneider, assistant superintendent for the Diocese, said when the state increased its minimum teacher salary to $40,000 last year, it ratcheted up the stakes, making it more challenging to compete.
Kathy Cain, assistant director for the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative, which serves eight Lake County districts, described the chronic special education shortage as “severe.”
“The job is very difficult and it’s a difficult license with additional course work needed,” Cain said. It will get tougher now.
For four years, Indiana has been violating federal law by issuing emergency special education teaching permits. In July, about 1,200 emergency permits will no longer be issued in compliance with federal rules.
Districts hope the state sets up requirements for provisional licensing, while teachers work toward the full license.
Meanwhile, Indiana is trying to improve the diversity in its teaching ranks. Data shows about 90% of its teachers are white, while about 40% of students are nonwhite.
IUN has offered an Urban Teacher Education Program since 1990 in collaboration with districts in Gary, Hammond and East Chicago.
“We’re seeing a great deal of diversity here,” said Sperling.