Recruiting and retaining educators in Iowa

It’s school board candidate forum season heading toward the Nov. 7 election. At these forums I’ve noticed most candidates, except those with their own political agenda, understand there’s a profound teacher shortage.

Recently, I’ve heard candidates say, “We need to attract and retain teachers.” But I’m left with two questions. How can school boards make this happen? What must happen in Iowa to make it possible?

There’s a critical shortage in the entire education family. Support staff positions like teaching assistants, secretaries, bus drivers, cooks, and custodians, are in short supply. So are school administrators. Schools also need a strong bench. There’s a very real need for substitutes.

Forums are a great way to get a glimpse of a candidate’s views. But the format doesn’t allow drilling down on how he/she would handle the teacher shortage crushing schools across the country.

Here are some specifics that school board candidates should consider if elected.

• First, school boards should listen to teachers about what will work. They understand their profession and live the shortages daily.

• A veteran teacher suggested Iowa needs to pass a law forgiving teachers college loans incrementally. If the teacher stays and teaches in Iowa, a percentage is deducted from the original loan each year. If he/she leaves for another state, the teacher assumes the remainder of the debt.

• For years I’ve heard, “We can’t just throw money at the problem.” We can’t. But we can target the money to help recruit and retain educators.

In 2021, educators nationally earned 23% less than other professions requiring the same level of education. That gap is growing.

• Board members need to help dispel the myth that teachers don’t work in the summer. They do.

• New teachers need to be mentored. Iowa once had a thriving mentoring program. It died from neglect. We need to help new teachers survive and thrive.

• All the research shows class size matters. But you don’t need a Ph.D. to know that if you have 30 first-graders in the room instead of 21, it’s more work for the teacher and more work for the student who struggles.

• Teachers need time to prepare during the day away from students. Doctors have waiting rooms. Teachers don’t.

• Most school districts in Iowa changed how they bargained after the bargaining law was rewritten in 2017. The first district bargaining proposal can now be its final offer. That must change.

• Conditions have changed. School administrators need to stop treating educators as dispensable. They aren’t. Once a large district would get 300 applicants for an elementary position. Now the same district has three.

• Despite loud voices accusing teachers, the public supports the profession. In a recent National Public Radio poll, 75% of the public believe teachers are not paid fairly for their work.

Unless school boards address recruiting and retaining educators, classrooms will be filled with kids but be missing a qualified teacher.

Bruce Lear of Sioux City taught for 11 years and represented educators as an Iowa State Education Association Regional Director for 27 years until retiring. BruceLear2419@gmail.com