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You are undoubtedly aware of the critical shortage of teachers, especially in most parts of Florida. The problem has national scope, but seems to be most intense in the western and southern parts of the United States. There are several key reasons for the current emphasis on teacher recruitment and retention:

  • Increasing populations mean there are more students arriving in already crowded classrooms and schools.

  • There is an especially high percentage of teachers who will be retiring within the next few years.

  • Some estimates are that 30% to 50% of new teachers leave the field of education during the first five years.

  • Colleges of education cannot produce the number of teacher education graduates to fill the jobs available.

  • Class size reductions in many states further exacerbate the teacher shortage.

    In addition to concentrating on the sheer number of teacher vacancies, it is also important to look at the mismatch of teachers to critical areas. Some high-demand fields, such as math, science, bilingual and special education, have an even smaller pool of qualified teachers. And when statistics are collected about the areas of study that college students are selecting, versus the demand, it is obvious that the problem will not be solved by traditional means.

    Retaining early career teachers in the profession is a priority in Florida. Mentoring is one of the many programs that emphasize assistance to beginning teachers. There are opportunities for teachers to participate in tele-mentoring programs as well as formal and informal mentoring relationships at your school and in your school district.

    School districts and state organizations have joined forces to recruit teachers by offering incentives such as housing subsidies, vouchers for college, competitive salaries, signing bonuses and improved working conditions for teachers. Alternative certification programs have also become prominent in many areas to encourage individuals with bachelor degrees to move quickly into the teaching field.

    How Teacher Recruitment/Retention Affects You