PASCO PROFILES: A TEACHER

Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 16, 2000

LYNNE WEBB, 43, is a veteran teacher and current president of the United School Employees of Pasco.

WHY PASCO? "I moved from New York to Dade City in the late 1970s after visiting my parents. I fell in love with its small-town charm while providing easy access to the arts and culture of Tampa. When I became a teacher, it was only natural for me to want to teach in the community where I lived and my children attended school."

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CONCERN TO PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD? "Despite dramatic negotiated increases in employee salaries in the last three years, we still have a long way to go to catch up to our surrounding counties. . . . The lack of funds available for salaries and benefits is a reflection of the lack of respect and dignity educators receive. It is demoralizing to constantly see one's efforts and dedication scrutinized, questioned and criticized by the public, the media and the legislature. No other profession has been so vilified."

HOW HAS PASCO'S BOOMING ECONOMY AFFECTED EDUCATION? "As Pasco has changed from a place people moved away from to a place people move to, the need for more schools and employees has grown tremendously. . . . Unfortunately, our level of funding depends on the Legislature, and so far, the Legislature has not provided funding levels that allow the school system to truly compete with private industry for personnel."

WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION? "The demand for teachers and school-related personnel is bound to continue to grow in Pasco and throughout the state and nation. However, the future looks very bleak unless fundamental issues of salary and respect and dignity are seriously addressed. Our Legislature needs to lead the way by listening and being responsive to teachers and school employees and providing levels of funding commensurate with their education and experience, duties and responsibilities." WHAT KIND OF WORKPLACE SKILLS ARE REQUIRED IN EDUCATION? "Not only must one have up-to-date content area and technological knowledge, but also one must be skilled at planning, organizing, interpersonal relations, marketing, goal setting . . . the list goes on and on. Beyond those skills one must also have compassion, commitment, stamina and a love of children."

WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO OVERCOME FLORIDA'S LOOMING TEACHER SHORTAGE? "We must rethink the way we view public education and those who choose careers in public education. Many feel we are at a time of crisis in education, and I would have to agree. . . . Until we pay educators a professional wage and look to them for input ideas, and solutions, we will never have sound and lasting education reform, and we will continue to see shortages abound. Quite frankly, how many people will flock to a field where they have little meaningful input, must constantly respond to and be accountable to outside mandates, and receive wages often thousands of dollars less than professionals with comparable skills from other fields?"

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