School of Education Fights Teacher Shortages in the Region

   Teacher shortages are prevalent in many states throughout the nation.  However, according to the School of Education, this problem is evermore present in Arkansas, and specifically in the southeast and delta regions, which are suffering from critical shortages in all areas.

Courtesy of Tracie Jones

Discussing Education - Sue Martin talks with Kerry Blakemore at the School of Education reception for students who signed up at the Organizational Fair. The SOE signed up 21 students interested in learning more about pursuing a degree in education.

   “We have to be very aggressive in recruiting new teachers in education, because there’s a crisis of a shortage of teachers in the nation, but especially in Southeast Arkansas,” said Peggy Doss, dean of the School of Education.  “In Southeast Arkansas and the Delta, there’s a shortage in all licensure areas, not just the few (shortage areas) of the state and the nation.”

   According to Doss, superintendents and principals in the area call the SOE on a regular basis looking for teacher candidates.  Due to the serious need for teachers in all areas, Doss said education graduates could step into a job directly after graduation.

   “All of the School of Education graduates are hired immediately upon graduation,” Doss said.  “Some are offered contracts during their internships and asked to begin teaching in the district as soon as they graduate."

    However, this still speaks to the crisis of the teacher shortage in the area.  To address this problem, the SOE developed a plan along with the Education Renewal Zone, the Southeast Arkansas Education Cooperative and the Arkansas Department of Education to help combat the shortage through recruitment and retention and by working with public schools and the community.

   “We have a shortage of teachers in Southeast Arkansas in all fields,” said Sue Martin, coordinator of teacher education, “and we are trying all kinds of different things to bring teachers into our system.”

Recruiting Future Teachers

   In order to better the process of recruiting and retaining students, and to collaborate with the public school districts, the SOE works closely with the Education Renewal Zone, which Doss said is key to the SOE’s efforts.

   A division of the Arkansas Department of Education, the ERZ allows public schools, education service cooperatives and higher education institutions to join forces in order to improve public schools and academics.  The Southeast ERZ serves as a liaison between the SOE and 14 school districts in the region, as well as providing funding for SOE projects and initiatives.

   “(The ERZ) tries to work with the community to make the community aware of the teacher shortage,” said Mary Jo Barnett, ERZ director.

   According to Barnett, the SOE must explore three different areas of recruitment – on campus, high schools and elementary schools, and the community.  The university and the ERZ currently have one major project underway to spur more involvement between colleges and high schools.

   The UAM/ERZ High School Redesign is a program designed to provide high school and university faculty the opportunity to share expectations for students, to provide materials needed for success in both environments and to provide information on resources from the school districts and the university.

   The next event for the High School Redesign project will take place Oct. 1 from 4-6 p.m. in the UAM John F. Gibson University Center Capitol Room.  The program, entitled “Best Practices,” will bring together ERZ members, UAM faculty and public school administrators.

   In addition, the SOE is also working with the Office of Admissions to bring in new students, as well as providing on-campus activities to help with the recruitment of current students.  In the past, the SOE hosted events such as a hot dog picnic, and it plans to host more events in the future.

   Martin said the SOE is currently planning a teacher recruitment fair in October and a grill out for first-year students and current education interns.  The SOE started out the semester by participating in the Organizational Fair, and signed up 21 students who were invited to a reception to meet the education faculty and learn more about pursuing a degree in education.

   The SOE also offers information and help with obtaining financial aid to complete a degree in education.  According to Martin, the school works with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to provide minority grants, as well as working with the state to provide scholarship money to students who will work in high-need areas.

Retaining New Teachers

   Despite the efforts of recruitment, national statistics state that 50 percent of teachers quit within the first five years of teaching.  Part of this loss is due to the first years being the hardest, but also the increased pressure and stress of performance-based testing.

Courtesy of Tracie Jones

Learning about Teaching – Stacey Fowler and Stevie Fowler look on during the SOE reception for new students.  Several students attended the reception to learn more about pursuing a degree in education.

   “Recruitment is on half of the equation,” Doss said.  “Retention is the other half.”

   According to Doss, the SOE is developing ways to support and better prepare its students.  It currently provides several support services and is beginning to do outreach programs with public schools to help new teachers in those difficult first years.  In addition, the SOE is helping prepare teachers to work with diverse classes.

   “If they are better prepared, we are more likely to retain them,” Doss said.

   The SOE requires its students to participate in a year of internship.  Martin said they find their students are more prepared for the public school classroom after a year of interning, as the internship provides them with diverse field experience.

   In addition, the SOE offers new programs that the Arkansas Department of Education approved, including a special add-on program that allows graduates with a degree in P4 or middle school education to return for a certification in special education.

   Another source of support exists within the Kappa Delta Pi honorary society, which consists of teacher candidates with a 3.0 grade point average or higher.  The group works with elementary schools, children interested in reading and teaching, as well as providing books for at-risk youth.

   “(We) try to show we are here to support our students,” Barnett said.  “We want them to succeed, and our doors are open if they have any problems.”

Building the Reputation of Teaching

   In addition to recruitment and retention, Doss said the SOE wants to build the reputation of teaching as a profession.  With 35 years in education, more than 20 being in the public schools, Doss said she recognizes teaching as a time-honored profession, but said over the years it hasn’t been emphasized as that.

   “We know if we prep our candidates to be outstanding teachers,” she said, “that promotes the profession, so we want to turn out high-quality teachers.”

   Doss said it takes special skills to become a teacher, including creativity, innovativeness, knowledge on the subject and how to teach.  She said teachers must be multi-talented people, and those individuals are special.  In addition, Doss said, teaching can open the door to other opportunities, such as becoming a specialist or an administrator, or working within a state or regional fashion.

   “(Education is) the only profession that can touch so many lives and families,” Doss said.

   Barnett noted that local businesses and churches have made an effort to show appreciation and respect for the profession by hosting appreciation dinners.  She also said the goal is to turn around the image of teaching as a career and to focus more on the positive aspects of teaching.

Addressing the Issues

   While many reasons are behind the teacher shortage in the Arkansas Delta, both Doss and Martin noted the economic status of the region contributes, in addition to it being a rural area.  Martin said one of the first questions asked by a prospective teacher is “where’s the nearest mall;” however, she also noted that the area could offer a lot for those who enjoy the outdoors.

   “What we find is once people move here, they love it,” Doss said, “but you have to experience it to know what we know.”

   Overall, both Doss and Martin pointed out the importance of the School of Education supporting economic development, not just for the recruitment of business but also of teachers.

   “Business and education go hand in hand,” Martin said.  “We both reap rewards from each other, and we both have to work together to bring economic growth to our part of the state.”

   Another factor contributing to the shortage is salaries.  According to Doss, the salaries of teachers are very diverse across the state.  However, while Northwest Arkansas may offer a higher starting salary, it also has a higher cost of living than Southeast Arkansas.

   “It’s not about the money,” Martin said.  “It’s about do you really care to help students.”

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