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Wanted: 30,000 new teachers in Florida

Harder recruiting, easier certification and better pay are among solutions eyed to fill a gap exacerbated by class size requirements.

By DONNA WINCHESTER
Published September 16, 2005

ORLANDO - Faced with the need to recruit more than 30,000 teachers for the 2006-07 school year, state education officials are mobilizing to combat what they see as a crisis.

Speaking at a Board of Governors meeting Thursday, deputy chancellor Pam Stewart called the need to recruit and train enough teachers to meet the demand created by Florida's class size amendment "one of the most critical issues facing Florida today."

Even if all 20,000 new teachers certified in 2003-04 continue to teach in Florida schools, less than 21 percent of the need for 2006-07 will be addressed, Stewart said.

That's because Florida will need more than 11,000 teachers just to meet the requirements of the class size amendment. State officials estimate another 14,000 will be needed to replace teachers expected to retire or leave the system for other reasons.

Stewart outlined a plan to address the need. It includes hiring a marketing firm to create a public awareness campaign, polling colleges of education and school district staffs for ideas, and involving parents through local PTAs.

The Department of Education also wants to increase performance-based pay and create new ways for people interested in teaching to be certified.

University of South Florida president Judy Genshaft said most of the strategies Stewart outlined already are in place at her school. She expects USF will do its share to meet the increased need for teachers by continuing to provide alternative avenues for certification and by building partnerships to improve teacher retention.

In other business, Board of Governors chairwoman Carolyn Roberts asked the 11 university presidents to review their efforts to recruit African-American students. Enrollment figures released last week show a 1.8 percent decrease in black freshman enrollment despite a 3.1 percent increase in university enrollment overall.

Roberts challenged the presidents to "be creative" in devising plans that will attract African-American students to their campuses, especially students who may be the first in their families to go to college.

She asked the presidents to bring their plans to the next Board of Governors meeting, scheduled for November at the University of North Florida.

[Last modified September 16, 2005, 01:35:22]