Kim Reynolds unveils a $45 million dollar program to alleviate Iowa's teacher shortage.

[lucas80]

Like her solution to ease a shortage of labor in the childcare industry, she is depending upon younger, less skilled, workers.
This does not seem to attack the root problem of Iowa's teachers quitting, and college graduates with teaching credentials leaving Iowa.
https://www.kcrg.com/2022/06/11/gov...rtage-with-45-million-apprenticeship-program/

 

[ichawkeye]

Perhaps the $45M could go toward public teacher wages, and perhaps Iowa politicians should stop suggesting their public school system can't be trusted and doesn't operate transparently.

 

[Hawk_82]

What do you recommend?

My guess is that increased pay and benefits plus better working environments would help.

These are the people who shape our youth. I would be willing to pay them appropriately.

Looks like the average teacher salary in iowa is 52k, average salary for all workers in iowa is 58 k.

So 6k less than average, and we still wonder why?

 

[SB_SB]

so basically, allow non-educated people to become teachers. The positive is, they won’t be qualified to teach in other states so they can’t leave. That’s going to work out well for kids.

 

[theiacowtipper]

If there is going to be a student loan forgiveness program it should be for teachers. I’m not talking about teachers like Me, college, but primary educators.

Set a cap, I don’t know, 50,000. Graduated payoff of loans. Just spitballing. First year the state pays interest only, or gets the feds to forgo interest the first year. After that, each year that you teach forgives 10k. Or maybe 5k and you have to teach 10 years. The goal would be that if you teach x number of years you won’t pay any student loans.

 

[Herky T Hawk]

Average teacher salary is $52k. Adding in the price of benefits you’re probably looking close to $70k. So $45MM pays for about an extra 650 teachers for one year.

 

[24 so far]

What do you recommend?

My guess is that increased pay and benefits plus better working environments would help.

These are the people who shape our youth. I would be willing to pay them appropriately.

Looks like the average teacher salary in iowa is 52k, average salary for all workers in iowa is 58 k.

So 6k less than average, and we still wonder why?

The people making 58k don't get summers off. That's likely the disparity I presume.

 

[AreWeCross]

I could only support higher wages if it was accompanied by an expectation they work full year. No more spring break, summer off or Christmas break. Give them PTO consistent with other industries.

Note I am not advocating for students to be in the classroom for 12 months. I am advocating for a significant increase in professional development.

 

[Hawk_82]

The people making 58k don't get summers off. That's likely the disparity I presume.

I get 6 weeks of vacation per year plus I get an additional 12 days of sick. Not much different than teachers. If the assumption is that most teachers don't take many days off during the school year. Obviously there is some difference, but it is similar at least.

 

[lucas80]

I could only support higher wages if it was accompanied by an expectation they work full year. No more spring break, summer off or Christmas break. Give them PTO consistent with other industries.

Note I am not advocating for students to be in the classroom for 12 months. I am advocating for a significant increase in professional development.

Okay, new guy, why would you give them benefits consistent with their industry when their job isn’t like other industries. Also, I don’t think of education as an industry. You are proposing that Summer and Winter break be replaced by mandatory development programs? Who is organizing and paying for that? Do you know that quite a few teachers take it upon themselves to use part of their Summers taking continuing education courses?

 

[MitchLL]

Lowering requirements for teachers is exactly what she did with the child care worker shortage.

If you can't find employees with the present standards...lower your standards.

Seems like students will suffer. But education in Iowa was never a priority for Kimberly.

Given her history, BAC for a DUI will likely get raised also so she can alleviate prison overcrowding because she won't allocate enough $$$ for prison security.

 

[AreWeCross]

Okay, new guy, why would you give them benefits consistent with their industry when their job isn’t like other industries. Also, I don’t think of education as an industry. You are proposing that Summer and Winter break be replaced by mandatory development programs? Who is organizing and paying for that? Do you know that quite a few teachers take it upon themselves to use part of their Summers taking continuing education courses?

By your logic, since no industries are the same by definition, there shouldn't be any consistencies from one industry to the next. However, PTO is very common across most every industry.

I will leave it to each school district to answer those questions, but development of employees is part of the DNA of every organization. Budgets are also a part of every organization. If our Public Schools are as great as so many of the educators on HROT proclaim, then solutions will be discovered.

I do know that there are some CE requirements, just like there are for many professions. This is not unique to education professionals.

 

[ichawkeye]

The people making 58k don't get summers off. That's likely the disparity I presume.

No, teachers should not be compared against the average adult worker.

 

[win1forthe]

This is a short-term fix, but at least it’s something. Students going into education is down, from what I’ve been told and what I see when hiring. I give the governor credit for acknowledging the problem and trying to do something.

 

[joelbc1]

so basically, allow non-educated people to become teachers. The positive is, they won’t be qualified in other states to teach so they can’t leave. That’s going to work out well for kids.

Iowa's version of a "caravan"?

 

[mthawkeyes]

This is a short-term fix, but at least it’s something. Students going into education is down, from what I’ve been told and what I see when hiring. I give the governor credit for acknowledging the problem and trying to do something.

Ten years ago it would have been unthinkable that someone of either party would even think of running for statewide public office on a platform of hostility towards public education. In a few months, that person will likely be re-elected as governor. To give her any "credit for acknowledging the problem and trying to do something" is akin to giving an arsonist credit for pissing on a fire.

 

[SSG T]

This is a short-term fix, but at least it’s something. Students going into education is down, from what I’ve been told and what I see when hiring. I give the governor credit for acknowledging the problem and trying to do something.

Except, it does nothing to address any of the reasons that existing teachers are leaving or why fewer are going into education in the 1st place.

 

[bdg8]

I get 6 weeks of vacation per year plus I get an additional 12 days of sick. Not much different than teachers. If the assumption is that most teachers don't take many days off during the school year. Obviously there is some difference, but it is similar at least.

I have seen teachers at my kid's schools take vacations in early October. They definitely use their vacation days in many cases

 

[joelbc1]

THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES!

What the hell do teachers expect? Daily they brainwash our children with the liberal, left wing socialist agenda by shoving this critical race theory down our innocents throats! DAMN REACHER UNIONS!

I think hiring Susie, who dropped out of high school in her sophomore year because she was pregnant (ah, she might have had a little problem with meth too) and giving her a second chance taking care and teaching young kids is one helluva idea! Imagine the perspective Susie can give her students! That Kim Reynolds......give her lemons and she has a recipe for lemonade!
Just like KIrk Ferentz......Kim will be having those teachers and students "doing it, the Iowa way!"

 

[AreWeCross]

I get 6 weeks of vacation per year plus I get an additional 12 days of sick. Not much different than teachers. If the assumption is that most teachers don't take many days off during the school year. Obviously there is some difference, but it is similar at least.

Yes, but you have probably been with your employer for decades. A 22 year old teacher should not get the same PTO as a teacher with 30 years of experience.,

 

[SB_SB]

If the only way to get teachers is to lower your standards then that’s a red flag for the job is underpaid. You may not like it but that’s the reality. Pay more and people will come. It’s that simple.

Yes, you might find some places where teachers get paid a good salary but anywhere they’re not, fix it.

 

[CesspoolHawk]

The people making 58k don't get summers off. That's likely the disparity I presume.

I bet you think teachers just work from first bell to last bell, don’t you?

 

[ichawkeye]

If the only way to get teachers is to lower your standards then that’s a red flag for the job is underpaid. You may not like it but that’s the reality. Pay more and people will come. It’s that simple.

Yes, you might find some places where teachers get paid a good salary but anywhere they’re not, fix it.

Iowa's standards are already below average.

Poor pay, poor appreciation, low standards, poor retention and recruitment.

Iowa has some great teachers, but the trend has been downward for years, and it's both frustrating and embarrassing that it's allowed to continue.

 

[BioHawk]

It was going to cost me 15k a year to move to Iowa to teach. So, I didn't do it.

 

[Tom Paris]

The people making 58k don't get summers off. That's likely the disparity I presume.

Here we go again…

 

[Tom Paris]

Except, it does nothing to address any of the reasons that existing teachers are leaving or why fewer are going into education in the 1st place.

Until the discipline in schools problem is alleviated none of this is overly going to matter. People in power need to create a safe working environment. Mostly emotionally.

 

[SB_SB]

This is a short-term fix, but at least it’s something. Students going into education is down, from what I’ve been told and what I see when hiring. I give the governor credit for acknowledging the problem and trying to do something.

You and I have different views of what a "fix" is. They're not adding teachers, they're adding daycare providers. Just wait until the kids hit 7th grade and they've learned half of what they need to.

 

[hwk23]

Generally I’m for paying teachers more. It’s a valuable service to society. Not all government spending is created equal.

Most importantly though, bring discipline back to school so it’s a better job. Give teachers and admin free rein to do their jobs. Avoiding litigation should not be a top 10 consideration for policies or decisions. The priority has to be education and that includes discipline.

 

[SB_SB]

I’m for paying teachers more. It’s a valuable service to society. All government spending is not created equal.

Also though, bring discipline back to school so it’s a better job. Give teachers and admin free rein to do their jobs. Avoiding litigation should not be a top 10 consideration for policies or decisions.

agree. In my day the problem children were separated from the regular kids so the discipline problems weren't so common. The idea the problem children should be allowed to disrupt other kids and the teachers has created a difficult learning environment.

 

[SB_SB]

I don't know what the retirement age is in Iowa for teachers but in Illinois it was raised where it used to be 55 (I think I'm not a teacher). I suspect Illinois might have some difficult times ahead as well because that was a definite selling point for a teacher, to be able to retire at a younger age.

 

[Tenacious E]

I get 6 weeks of vacation per year plus I get an additional 12 days of sick. Not much different than teachers. If the assumption is that most teachers don't take many days off during the school year. Obviously there is some difference, but it is similar at least.

What the hell do where you get a month and a half of vacation? Do you use the full 6?

 

[win1forthe]

Ten years ago it would have been unthinkable that someone of either party would even think of running for statewide public office on a platform of hostility towards public education. In a few months, that person will likely be re-elected as governor. To give her any "credit for acknowledging the problem and trying to do something" is akin to giving an arsonist credit for pissing on a fire.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not a cure. One of the biggest challenges I face every morning at work is finding substitutes, both for teachers and paras. Any push to help cover classrooms is appreciated. I don’t work in Iowa, and I know Reynolds and her cronies don’t like education, so I apologize if I came across as endorsing her, I’m not.

 

[win1forthe]

I don't know what the retirement age is in Iowa for teachers but in Illinois it was raised where it used to be 55 (I think I'm not a teacher). I suspect Illinois might have some difficult times ahead as well because that was a definite selling point for a teacher, to be able to retire at a younger age.

In illinois, you can retire at 50 but not with a full pension. The big numbers now are 60 and 67. A teacher starting now in Illinois needs to work to 67 to get a full pension.

 

[abby97]

I get 6 weeks of vacation per year plus I get an additional 12 days of sick. Not much different than teachers. If the assumption is that most teachers don't take many days off during the school year. Obviously there is some difference, but it is similar at least.

Good for you, but 90% of working Americans don't get 6 weeks of vacation. do you live in France? Teachers should not be paid the same as private sector workers unless they are willing to work the same amount of weeks per year in my book.

 

[win1forthe]

You and I have different views of what a "fix" is. They're not adding teachers, they're adding daycare providers. Just wait until the kids hit 7th grade and they've learned half of what they need to.

She is not interested in fixing the problem. I should have phrased it better…her solution is a band-aid on a gaping wound.

 

[TheCainer]

It was going to cost me 15k a year to move to Iowa to teach. So, I didn't do it.

You sound selfish. 😉

 

[TheCainer]

I could only support higher wages if it was accompanied by an expectation they work full year. No more spring break, summer off or Christmas break. Give them PTO consistent with other industries.

Note I am not advocating for students to be in the classroom for 12 months. I am advocating for a significant increase in professional development.

Would that increase in professional development include weapons training? Maybe we could pay them for 2 weeks of militia boot camp training in the summer so they can learn to protect their students from active shooters?

Hasn't Ted Cruz already proposed this? Maybe I have him confused with Governor Abbott, or some other fool?

 

[BioHawk]

You sound selfish. 😉

Yeah, I'm not too proud to admit that.

 

[gohawks50]

I don't know what the retirement age is in Iowa for teachers but in Illinois it was raised where it used to be 55 (I think I'm not a teacher). I suspect Illinois might have some difficult times ahead as well because that was a definite selling point for a teacher, to be able to retire at a younger age.

Retirement for teachers in Iowa is based on the rule of 88, the number of years teaching plus your age must equal or exceed 88 to receive full IPERS benefits. I believe there is also an exception for teachers that began later in life, I think it is 60 years old plus 20 years of teaching.

 

[SB_SB]

What the hell do where you get a month and a half of vacation? Do you use the full 6?

I get very similar, 6 weeks PTO and 2 weeks sick. And they tell us we can take the sick for PTO, we just have to say it's a mental health day. During the pandemic I basically didn't work the month of December.