The 10% pay hike proposed for each of the next two years would help attract and retain educators at a time when LAUSD, like many districts, is grappling with a worker shortage and teachers are desperately needed to help students rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, union officials said.
There are wide disparities between states when it comes to a full teaching staff. Florida, with the highest percentage of vacancies, has approximately 6.5 teachers per 1,000 residents. The lowest, North Dakota, has about 13 teachers per 1,000 in population.
Around 50 students gathered in front of the building Nov. 23 about an hour before the school day ended to bring attention to their claims about a teacher shortage and how it affects students’ education.
"Overall I feel that most of our problems stem from not enough adults/staff in the building. Why are we not getting help from the district with this?" one Conway teacher asked during the meeting.
Prioritizing the whole child in meeting the needs of all learners is at the top of the agenda for these leaders. "We're maximizing every minute. And we're leaning into kids' interests," one says.
Alabama school districts are getting creative in how they recruit and retain teachers. One solution: Paying student interns during their time in the classroom.
Some schools around the country are closing as flu, RSV, and an uptick in COVID infections spread on already short-staffed campuses, raising questions about how adequate staffing levels can be maintained this winter.
