East Idaho Struggles to Hire Qualified Teachers
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POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) – Some school districts in southeast Idaho haven’t been able to find qualified teachers to fill open positions, and officials fear the problem will become worse.
The Idaho State Journal reports that Pocatello, American Falls and Aberdeen school districts have had to use student teachers, substitutes and teachers with provisional certifications.
Aberdeen School District Superintendent Jane Ward says it’s a struggle to find teacher’s under the state’s existing teacher licensing plan.
She says a proposed tiered-licensure plan that locks beginning teachers into the same salary for three years and can also drop teachers’ pay will make it worse.
American Falls Superintendent Ron Bolinger says the culture and dignity of being a teacher in Idaho has been destroyed.