A shortage in teachers has been a lingering problem for not only the state of Illinois, but across the country. Low pay, unfair evaluation methods, strict licensing requirements, and other factors have hindered teaching numbers in recent years. However, there is hope after a new state budget was approved in May, which will require teachers to make a minimum salary of at least $40,000 by the 2022-23 school year.
Monmouth-Roseville Superintendent Ed Fletcher shared his thoughts on why it’s been this hard to lure new teachers to the field:
“There is this certain level of expectations for educators; you have to get kids to perform at this level, this level, this level. Well, make it enticing for educators to come into the field, to want to work with the kids. Now, you can go out in the private industry and make more money as a teacher. The expectations increase, increase, increase, but the funding and support for education has just, to me – we get pummeled in public opinion all the time – which is just sad to me. Educators work very hard to do great things with kids,” he said.
According to the Illinois State Board of Education, about 2,000 teaching positions were unfilled heading into the 2017-18 school year.
To hear more from Fletcher’s interview, click on the link below:
written by Jackson Kane
