LM Jan 2024

Shortage .. cont’d.

later new candidates reaching the licensure level which is already leading to more graduating candidates. This is good. These efforts must continue by making further adjustments at the state level. Now, one of our biggest hurdles is retention. To sustain the teacher work force and to assist the current teacher shortage, we must develop ways to keep the existing work force in the education field along with finding ways to recruit new educators in the field. When you want to draw people into a profession and retain them, you must fulfill basic needs. This includes pay, benefits, and working conditions. Administration and Boards of Education must show their support of both new and experienced teachers. Bottom line—we will not be able to tackle the teacher shortage

without addressing current turnover trends in teacher long term career paths. Internal efforts such as collaborative professional development plans, attendance bonus incentives, staff socials and other work incentives must be planned in every district. That includes pay, benefits, and working conditions. Likewise, the process of retention must begin from the very first introduction of the candidates to the district during the initial interview and carry on throughout the employee’s career in the district. Because of the Teacher Shortage the hiring focus has changed. In the past the candidate had to impress the administration and Board. Now, with the shortage, administration and Board must impress the candidate for both hiring and long-term employment.

Ralph Grimm is a retired Illinois Superintendent who served districts for 21 years in that role. He currently serves the Illinois Association of School Administrators as a Field Services Director. He also provides Professional Development training to the association members and provides consulting services with boards of education, school districts, schools, and teams throughout Illinois. rgrimm@iasaedu.org. Dr. Jim Rosborg is a retired Illinois Superintendent and Director of the Master’s in Education Program at McKendree University. He is a co-author of 2 books and was named the 2004 Illinois Superintendent of the Year. He has researched the Teacher Shortage extensively since 2014 and has authored several articles on Teacher Shortage and No Child Left Behind. He currently works with doctorate students at McKendree University and speaks to educators and boards about the shortage and its possible solutions. jtrosborg@mckendree.edu.

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12 LM January 2024