Teacher Schools May See Decline

Few Kansas teens express interest in classroom career

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By Chris Moon

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Somewhere beneath the never-ending struggle for more funding for Kansas public schools is another brewing danger.

It could undermine the state’s ability to keep up with tough federal mandates requiring student achievement.

You don’t hear much about it amid the talk of constitutional crises and legislative grumbling.

But it is there, education officials say: The state is losing qualified teachers faster than it is gaining them.

“The numbers are scary,” said acting Kansas Education Commissioner Dale Dennis.

He is a numbers guy, a rare expert on the public school system who state lawmakers constantly seek out for information, statistics and advice.

But in talking recently to a legislative committee, Dennis brought his own batch of concerns.

Annually, officials who administer the ACT exam to high school juniors and seniors survey students about their career goals.

Of roughly 23,000 students who took the test in 2005, just 586 said they were going into teacher education.

That compared to 3,777 who wanted to go into health sciences — to become chiropractors, dental hygienists or nurses. And it fell short of the 885 students who planned to become engineers.

Moreover, this year’s 586 would-be teachers students are fewer than the 849 who chose that route on the ACT survey five years ago.

“I thought you could help us worry,” Dennis told state lawmakers.

The problem

But those statistics only add another layer to the foreboding outlook for the state’s teacher population, education officials say.

– The Kansas State Department of Education shows 37 percent of the state’s teachers are older than 50 and headed toward retirement. That is up from 30.7 percent in 2000.

– The number of teachers with less than four years of experience has declined steadily during the past five years. Those with 30- plus years in teaching are increasing.

– And of 1,919 teachers who began their careers in 2001, only 1,284 percent were still in the classroom in 2005 — a sign that teacher retention is lacking in Kansas.

“We’re not producing enough teachers to replace all those who are going to leave,” said Beth Fultz, a licensed personnel consultant for the Kansas State Department of Education.

But there is one happier statistic.

When it comes to new teachers entering the profession, Fultz said, “We think we’ve bottomed out.”

The number of new teachers entering the profession actually increased this year.

A mixed response

Education experts say they are concerned about teacher shortages. But not all of them are ready to storm the halls of the Statehouse to demand help.

“We still have pretty strong numbers of people who are exploring teaching,” said Sandra Tutwiler, chairman of the education department at Washburn University.

She put little stock in the ACT survey.

“You’re dealing with 18-year-olds,” she said.

Many students look to other professions before landing in education. And at Washburn, which attracts a lot of nontraditional students, midlife career shifts are a common sight.

But education advocates complain about the low pay and increasing stress that comes with teaching at public schools.

The federal No Child Left Behind Act has added tough accountability measures and new paperwork for those who stand in front of the classroom.

And in key shortage areas — math and science — other, more lucrative professions snatch up many of the key students.

Janice Wissman, associate dean of Kansas State University’s College of Education, said she is often competing with other departments, such as engineering, for students.

Still, numbers at the college are stable, with about 1,700 undergraduates enrolled.

“We don’t feel like we’re undersupplied in students,” she said.

Still, K-State is a frequent stop for Texas recruiters armed with signing bonuses for students who get through the program.

Some solutions

But things could be looking up, experts say.

Dennis, the education commissioner, said the Legislature’s 10 percent increase in public school funding has helped many districts boost salaries and improve health insurance benefits. The Shawnee Heights school district is giving its teachers a hefty 7.8 percent pay raise.

And a teacher mentoring program started by the Legislature in 2002 was renewed this year. It gives $1,000 stipends to mentors. Statistics show the program helps retain teachers.

And at K-State, Wissman said she is getting some scholarship help. A Kansas City-area businessman has started a scholarship fund, Tomorrow’s Teachers, which has helped put several students through the program.

“It would be nice to have more scholarships,” Wissman said. “But it’s the citizens, not just the Legislature. People can be more supportive (of teaching) — whatever we can do to recruit more students into the field.”

Personal side

Katharyn Brandt, a Washburn senior working on a physical education degree, said she planned to follow her mother into teaching. The Chicago native came to Washburn to play volleyball and wants eventually to coach.

She said she is aware of the new demands on educators and doesn’t agree with all of them. But teaching means helping all of her students get a leg up in life — unlike the volleyball court, where only the top six players really need to perform.

And the pay?

“Money doesn’t bring happiness,” Brandt said.

Chris Moon can be reached

at (785) 233-7470 or chris.moon@cjonline.com.

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Teacher: Increasing number are older