June 7, 2000
The teacher shortage predicted to hit schools nationwide has already appeared here in Utah.
School districts all over the state are scrambling to fill hundreds of teacher openings.
One brand new teacher knows she could've gotten a job in virtually any district in the state, and could've nearly doubled her salary if she'd gone out of state.
Becki Runia/New Teacher:"MOST OF MY FRIENDS HAVE GONE TO CALIFORNIA OR LAS VEGAS AND THEY GOT JOBS REALLY QUICKLY."
New teachers are in such demand that
Utah schools are having to recruit out of state like never before, and they've got the expense reports to prove it.
"THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING."
George Welch/Jordan School District: "THIS IS THE SHORTEST YEAR THAT I'VE SEEN."
"DOES IT CONCERN YOU? A: ABSOLUTELY IS DOES."
Here's a sobering scenario.
The University of Utah graduated 265 new teachers.
Schools just along the Wasatch Front need 1,100 new teachers.
The shortage is so serious in special ed, applied technology, math and science, some districts fear they won't be able to fill all the vacancies by the time school starts this fall.
"WE'VE PRIDED OURSELVES, ALL OF US, IN TRYING TO PUT THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST THAT WE HAVE IN CLASSROOMS FOR CHILDREN. BUT THERE'S JUST NOT THE PLETHORA OF PEOPLE TO CHOOSE FROM."
This teacher found enough incentives in her current district, to keep her from leaving.
"I COULD HAVE, BUT I DECIDED NOT TO BECAUSE I WAS REALLY CONTENT WHERE I WAS."
But recruiters fear until the state can significantly boost salaries, Utah's teaching pool will continue leaving the profession and the state.
