education systems in this country and the educators who teach our students have come under constant and undeserved criticism. When I was young, education was seen as the solution to America’s problems. Today, in some quarters, education is seen as the cause of America’s problems. Young people ask themselves why they would want to go into our profession when they could earn significantly more money and not be scapegoated for the nation’s problems.” The task force has come up with several different ideas thus far. They are: improving salary schedules in districts where salaries are low; helping young people with student loans which they have difficulty repaying on their salaries; a statewide advertising campaign to get more young people involved in education; and specific coursework in high school designed to increase interest in education careers in high school students. According to Archuleta, the major teacher shortages in North Dakota are in geographic areas where educators are not adequately compensated. “Every single subject area in North Dakota is now a hard-to-fill position,” he said.
“
The teacher shortage is not just a North Dakota problem. It is a national problem. It is time for serious people to take serious action to bring the best and brightest into the teaching profession and to make certain that our communities have
Increasing teachers’ salaries is an important consideration as North Dakota struggles to meet the needs of its students. However, according to Archuleta, it is not the only consideration.
the support necessary
“As I have traveled the state of North Dakota engaging teachers in conversations around the issue of recruiting and retaining teachers, a few issues have cropped up time and time again: the diminution of prestige of the profession of teaching, the lack of respect shown to teachers, and the loss of autonomy in our classrooms,” said Archuleta. “It is clear that beyond the issue of salaries and benefits, teachers want a return to student-centered, teacher-led classrooms. Teachers, after all, know their students better than bureaucrats and relish the opportunity to be creative and responsive to the needs of the children in their care.”
teachers remain in the
to ensure that great profession.”
“ND United has a responsibility to tell the truth about education and the teaching profession,” said Archuleta. “We must make sure that every North Dakotan understands the positive differences professional educators make in the lives of their students every day, and encourage young people to choose education as a profession.” Archuleta welcomes the opportunity to work with other education stakeholders on the issue of teacher shortages. “No one stakeholder group can remedy this situation alone. We are going to have to work as one to solve the problem. We are all going to have to become more creative as we try to attract people to our communities to live and work. We are going to have to work together to convince the legislature that now is not the time to underfund education in North Dakota. Despite the economic downturn ND is experiencing, we have discovered that many of those who came to North Dakota have decided to stay. They have found our state to be a decent place to raise their families. So, the need for teachers is going to continue.” Member of the Task Force besides ND United include: ND Council of Educational Leaders, ND School Board Association, Cankdeska Cikana Community College, ND Department of Public Instruction Valley City State University, Education Standards and Practices Board, the Missouri River Education Cooperative, North Border School District, University of North Dakota, University of Mary, and the ND Department of Career and Technical Education. The task force is facilitated by the North Dakota Central Comprehensive Center @ McREL International. ndunited.org
17