Alleged teacher shortage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here who mentioned Math. To get more math teachers, FCPS needs to advertise the way IN and make it reasonable. To teach Calculus and below, I don't understand why the teacher has to have coursework above Calculus, and be a Math major.

I agree! I'd be interested in a second career teaching math through Alegebra 1 or Geometry. I'm not interested in taking high level math classes to do it. I took Calculas AB in high school back in the day and passed. I got a 780 on the Math SAT. I think I could succeed as a middle school math teacher but right now it seems like too much work to get certfied.

I teach secondary math. I hear what you're saying. The calc requirement is a huge limiter for a lot of people. However, imo as a 20 year teacher, college calc I and II experience is absolutely necessary as a minimum.

You always need to know where your kids are going, the vertical skills. This is why I believe it is a huge mistake that elementary teachers teach math. They don't know what is required for Algebra I, having never taught it, and so they aren't able to understand the vertical skills that their students will need. It is a reason why things like the lattice method for multiplication was being taught in our school system. Fortunately now we've been able to stomp that out but for a while it was crazy.

I completely agree with you that we need a better pathway for getting more people math certified. I don't know what the answer is but I agree that the path we have now is too arduous and we are losing a lot of potentially great teachers because of that.

The lattice method must go!! I had to have it written into my child’s IEP that they wouldn’t teach him that way in order to escape it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Experienced principal here. The teacher shortage is real. It keeps getting worse. Whoever is saying there is no shortage doesn’t know what they’re saying.

If there are enough certified teachers to fill these position but choose not to, it's not a shortage. Public education is losing teachers left and right. Not just unprepared teachers either. But the school districts only care about filling the positions, not why the teachers left. I have half a dozen friends that I can think of off the top of my head who are certified and could step into a classroom at any time but they don't want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here who mentioned Math. To get more math teachers, FCPS needs to advertise the way IN and make it reasonable. To teach Calculus and below, I don't understand why the teacher has to have coursework above Calculus, and be a Math major.

I agree! I'd be interested in a second career teaching math through Alegebra 1 or Geometry. I'm not interested in taking high level math classes to do it. I took Calculas AB in high school back in the day and passed. I got a 780 on the Math SAT. I think I could succeed as a middle school math teacher but right now it seems like too much work to get certfied.

I teach secondary math. I hear what you're saying. The calc requirement is a huge limiter for a lot of people. However, imo as a 20 year teacher, college calc I and II experience is absolutely necessary as a minimum.

You always need to know where your kids are going, the vertical skills. This is why I believe it is a huge mistake that elementary teachers teach math. They don't know what is required for Algebra I, having never taught it, and so they aren't able to understand the vertical skills that their students will need. It is a reason why things like the lattice method for multiplication was being taught in our school system. Fortunately now we've been able to stomp that out but for a while it was crazy.

I completely agree with you that we need a better pathway for getting more people math certified. I don't know what the answer is but I agree that the path we have now is too arduous and we are losing a lot of potentially great teachers because of that.

The lattice method must go!! I had to have it written into my child’s IEP that they wouldn’t teach him that way in order to escape it.

OMG, that's classic that you had to have it written into the IEP. You were absolutely right in insisting on it not being taught to your child though. It does way more harm than good!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here who mentioned Math. To get more math teachers, FCPS needs to advertise the way IN and make it reasonable. To teach Calculus and below, I don't understand why the teacher has to have coursework above Calculus, and be a Math major.

I agree! I'd be interested in a second career teaching math through Alegebra 1 or Geometry. I'm not interested in taking high level math classes to do it. I took Calculas AB in high school back in the day and passed. I got a 780 on the Math SAT. I think I could succeed as a middle school math teacher but right now it seems like too much work to get certfied.

I teach secondary math. I hear what you're saying. The calc requirement is a huge limiter for a lot of people. However, imo as a 20 year teacher, college calc I and II experience is absolutely necessary as a minimum.

You always need to know where your kids are going, the vertical skills. This is why I believe it is a huge mistake that elementary teachers teach math. They don't know what is required for Algebra I, having never taught it, and so they aren't able to understand the vertical skills that their students will need. It is a reason why things like the lattice method for multiplication was being taught in our school system. Fortunately now we've been able to stomp that out but for a while it was crazy.

I completely agree with you that we need a better pathway for getting more people math certified. I don't know what the answer is but I agree that the path we have now is too arduous and we are losing a lot of potentially great teachers because of that.

The lattice method must go!! I had to have it written into my child’s IEP that they wouldn’t teach him that way in order to escape it.

OMG, that's classic that you had to have it written into the IEP. You were absolutely right in insisting on it not being taught to your child though. It does way more harm than good!

I’m a different high school math teacher and do not have either of my children use it either. I don’t care if they are marked wrong. There are other methods besides the traditional ones we learned that are fine but not lattice. I seldom disagree with new teaching methods and keep an open mind but this isn’t okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Experienced principal here. The teacher shortage is real. It keeps getting worse. Whoever is saying there is no shortage doesn’t know what they’re saying.

If there are enough certified teachers to fill these position but choose not to, it's not a shortage. Public education is losing teachers left and right. Not just unprepared teachers either. But the school districts only care about filling the positions, not why the teachers left. I have half a dozen friends that I can think of off the top of my head who are certified and could step into a classroom at any time but they don't want to.

A lot of it is pay. Many teachers (myself included) left the workforce due to having kids and a high earning spouse. For me to return, the pay would have to increase dramatically. My husband’s annual bonus is more than my annual salary when I left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Experienced principal here. The teacher shortage is real. It keeps getting worse. Whoever is saying there is no shortage doesn’t know what they’re saying.

If there are enough certified teachers to fill these position but choose not to, it's not a shortage. Public education is losing teachers left and right. Not just unprepared teachers either. But the school districts only care about filling the positions, not why the teachers left. I have half a dozen friends that I can think of off the top of my head who are certified and could step into a classroom at any time but they don't want to.

A lot of it is pay. Many teachers (myself included) left the workforce due to having kids and a high earning spouse. For me to return, the pay would have to increase dramatically. My husband’s annual bonus is more than my annual salary when I left.

Obscene. What does he do for a living?

[Anonymous]

I googled lattice method but I still don’t understand it lol.

[Anonymous]

It would have helped a decade ago if principals came together and decided to support the teachers instead of blame and bash them for everything. I think it's too late now. Teachers are done. Teach it yourself p and aps. Get a taste of what you have been bashing us for years about. HAVE FUN DEALING WITH THE PARENTS WITHOUT SUPPORT!!!! HAHAHAH!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Experienced principal here. The teacher shortage is real. It keeps getting worse. Whoever is saying there is no shortage doesn’t know what they’re saying.

If there are enough certified teachers to fill these position but choose not to, it's not a shortage. Public education is losing teachers left and right. Not just unprepared teachers either. But the school districts only care about filling the positions, not why the teachers left. I have half a dozen friends that I can think of off the top of my head who are certified and could step into a classroom at any time but they don't want to.

A lot of it is pay. Many teachers (myself included) left the workforce due to having kids and a high earning spouse. For me to return, the pay would have to increase dramatically. My husband’s annual bonus is more than my annual salary when I left.

Obscene. What does he do for a living?

NP here but same. My DH works for a Gov Con and his annual bonus is 50% of his base, which is mid 200’s. Total comp is upper 300’s.

[Anonymous]

I am certified to teach math and took calc 2. But I can't. I don't even care about the pay i love teaching. I don't care about the pandemic either.

What i need is on site free childcare and I'd be happy to teach (and I'm female too!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am certified to teach math and took calc 2. But I can't. I don't even care about the pay i love teaching. I don't care about the pandemic either.

What i need is on site free childcare and I'd be happy to teach (and I'm female too!)

I don’t understand. Did you have onsite free childcare prior to March 12?

[Anonymous]

That’s ridiculous about a government contractor’s salary being upper $300s. Is that C-suite level?

God I hate DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s ridiculous about a government contractor’s salary being upper $300s. Is that C-suite level?

God I hate DC

Nope, just a lowly VP. His boss makes 800k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am certified to teach math and took calc 2. But I can't. I don't even care about the pay i love teaching. I don't care about the pandemic either.

What i need is on site free childcare and I'd be happy to teach (and I'm female too!)

I don’t understand. Did you have onsite free childcare prior to March 12?

I’m guessing people had elementary school children in school 5 days a week prior to March 12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a school administrator in FCPS, I’ll agree with many who say that it’s not necessarily difficult to staff the schools (unless maybe you’re a poorly run Title I with a teacher exodus), but I will say that the QUALITY of candidate is declining. Whereas 5 years ago we were still pulling from B+ and A- candidates in July and August, waiting to hire now until that time is getting you Cs and Ds. I’d encourage folks to re-center part of this discussion on teacher quality rather than quantity. My worry is that some of the best and brightest that once saw K12 as a calling to a fulfilling career and good retirement and no longer doing so... this unfortunately leads to negative outcomes for our students.

Exactly!