How to keep teachers in the state’s education workforce was the topic of a roundtable discussion at the Kansas Statehouse this week. How to keep teachers in the state’s education workforce was the topic of a roundtable discussion at the Kansas Statehouse earlier this week. 

Rep. Susan Estes, R-Wichita, chair of the House Education Committee, invited teachers, administrators, school board members and education advocates to speak on what challenges and possible solutions existed to address the state’s teacher shortage. 

The importance of strong mentoring programs for first- and second-year teachers, particularly around the classroom management and curriculum work, was a key point of discussion. 

“Any money you can put toward mentoring is well worth it,” Katie Warren, a teacher in Wichita USD 259 and president of the United Teachers of Wichita, told legislators. She said new teachers need to “have someone they can go to.” She said in her district, many first year teachers were successful but often were not in their second year if they didn’t have a mentor.  

During exit interviews, Linn Exline, superintendent of Salina USD 305, said teachers in her district often point to increasing negative student behaviors as a reason they are leaving.  

“What that says to me is that we need stronger mentoring programs,” she told legislators. “We need outside supports for students.” 

Phillip Wrigley is a social studies teacher at Topeka High School, Topeka USD 501, and a member of the Kansas State Department of Education’s Professional Standards Board. He said the board has been working on gathering statewide data to see if mentoring is working.  

“We are dancing through mine fields,” Wrigley said. “We need to not feel alone in the work.” 

Jill Johnson, a math teacher at Shawnee Mission East High School, Shawnee Mission USD 512, added that a strong mentoring program is vital to help with classroom management and curriculum work. Todd Dain, principal at Shawnee Mission South High School added that a “mentor program is such a crucial piece of making sure teachers are successful.” He also said he recently lost several teachers in their second or third years of service because they could not afford child care, saying that’s the “biggest crisis” he continuously faces. 

TinaRae Scott, a member of the Morris County USD 417 board of education, told legislators that her district has a difficult time attracting teachers because of Council Grove’s proximity to the larger districts in Emporia and Manhattan that have more resources. 

“We are doing everything we can to get these people to come to our district but there aren’t those teachers out there,” she said, adding that it’s difficult to fill classified and paraprofessional positions.  

An increasing lack of respect for the teaching profession was another issue discussed by the roundtable participants. 

“The fact that teachers aren’t appreciated…it’s very challenging for them,” Kevin Cole, president of the Kansas Association of School Boards told legislators. “It’s taxing on them. A majority of them are working because they love kids.” 

Kristin Brighton, president of Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 board of education, echoed Cole’s sentiments and said increasing teacher salaries is necessary to compete with other, less demanding professions.   

“We are all employers of teachers,” she said. “We need to address pay. It’s hard to keep the talent in the classroom.” 

Other issues the roundtable addressed were mental health supports for students as well as funding for special education and transportation for career and technical education.