The American Classroom: Texas school district tackles teacher shortages 

STOP BLAMING COVID!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The issues our schools have experienced have been there for years. COVID just put the teacher's problems in everyone's faces.

You want to recruit and retain teachers? Force parents to take responsibility for the children's actions.

Pay is the #1 reason I'm thinking about leaving teaching. I can deal with everything else (paperwork, student behavior, lack of support) if I were paid for the amount of work I do. I do not want to hear, "Teachers are in it for the outcome, not the income." I can't focus on the outcome when I'm stressed about the income.

It’s truly a bad sign of current events when teachers leave teaching, they’ve put up with a lot! Shame on America for not paying teachers! This is what happens when a society doesn’t value education.

It's crazy with the outrageous amounts of Taxes we pay in Texas that they can't pay teachers a living wage, but have no problem paying superintendents 200k salary.

One of my friends took a lower paying teaching job at a Catholic school. But she said it was worth it because the school doesn't tolerate behavior issues and there is more support across the board. Class sizes are also smaller. I don't know why anyone would want to teach at modern public school. They are basically tax funded daycares.

The administrators don't care about teacher. I'm in Dallas, and we are in no way supported when it comes to behavior issues. The admins just blame us for behavior and throw money at us hoping we'll put up with it. It's nothing but hazard pay.

There is no teacher shortage! It is a shortage of adequate pay and supportive workplaces!

Parents need to EITHER:control their children OR HOMESCHOOL

My sister was a HS educator and resigned due to health issues. The stories I’ve heard are shameful and a reflection of a society in decline.

You all missed the mark with this completely. Kids can literally punch teachers in the face and swear at them and remain in the classroom. Tear down bulliten boards and then get a bag of chips from the principals office and come back up. And that’s just a part or the problems we’re facing.

I feel bad for the students in Texas. However, Texas previous and current procedures, systems, payment and fees are ridiculous, that was the reason I moved from Texas to Washington State, and I'm glad I did.

Been a teacher for 6 years. Extremely happy that this will be my last year. It’s just not worth it as a career.

Interview teachers who left.

You couldn’t pay me enough to even consider teaching. That job sucks.

Pay teachers more!! And also allow discipline into school, writing a sentence ten times will not traumatize a child!

The response to covid destroyed what was left of the educational system, but it's been dying for years.

Let’s just tell the truth the reason why y’all don’t want to pay teachers a good salary is the fact that y’all just don’t want to pay people for the amount of effort that they put into going to school for their professions. Y’all rather pay people which y’all think is good enough for a person to live off of while you can take all the money in the world and live a lavish life.

These teachers did a stellar job of convincing me and hopefully other citizens that schools require more of our support.

I think more teachers should quit.

It’s pretty simple: pay teachers more. Let’s stop acting like the solution to this problem is complicated.

If you're thinking of going into teaching because it's a "calling" or it's a "noble profession", you need to check your caller ID.

Coming from a Texas Teacher currently in his 15th year. Paying teachers more does nothing to assist the cultural and societal issues like the staggering numbers of young boys not having fathers or positive father figures in the home. A number that has skyrocketed in the last 40 years. If you don’t think the effects of that are detrimental to a society then you have blinders on.

Low pay, disrespectful students, overwhelming paperwork, bully principals, and no support from administrators. Next year will be my last! 👋🏽

Every few months a news piece but nothing ever happens

Teaching is a nobel profession in the world.I think it.

Mesquite ISD has always had a solid reputation. I'm glad to see they are doing all they can to maintain their excellence.

BAD ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING TEACHER QUIT THE PROFESSION. ADMINISTRATION ARE GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY BECAUSE THEY ARE CLUELESS.

I'm thankful I was gifted with a desire to learn. I attended public school but was in the advanced classes with other kids who wanted to be there and to learn.

Teachers afraid their students, parents, politicians, they don't pay them enough.

I recently met someone who was a former educator in Texas who left for Chicago because of Christian extremist parents threatening her life. She got death threats, and constant calls from CPS over child abuse. Why? Because she had a pride flag in her front yard and had a transgender child. She now teaches in Chicago for less money, but is more safe now.

I hope some of these teachers move to blue states where they will have academic freedom, better pay and retirement and better benefits not to mention peace of mind.

The state of Arizona’s governor just completed a task force that researched the teacher shortage issue here. Two reasons for the issues popped up to the top- low pay and lack of support from administrators. If I wasn’t so close to retirement I’d be gone….teaching is nothing like it was when I started 20 years ago.

What's not talked about is how lenient the administration is on student discipline. The most disruptive and aggressive students repeatedly get a slap on the wrist. Ask the Judson ISD.

Stop calling students “over achievers”. What the hell is that supposed to mean? They are competing on a global scale. If they care to explore ideas beyond what you have to offer, or challenge themselves, encourage them!

Offer a higher pay and a 4 day school schedule

My cousin is a elementary school teacher in Texas. Her pay is decent but her district faces other problems. Some parents disown her because he’s not Christian. Her school is constantly getting sick children to the point the teacher’s are getting sick too.

I guarantee, the lawyer/teacher is teaching an honors class. Good for him, but these are not your average students, and not your average classroom. And all that furniture that makes his classroom a court room??? He paid for all of that himself. Notice how they are showing only 2 teachers in a district with 51 schools, and just one para who became a teacher. Doesn't sound like a very successful program. Show the teacher who is in front of a class of 38 students, after lunch, trying to teach English literature. That's what a real classroom looks like, and it's hard. This was "staged" education. And teachers aren't leaving just due to pay, in fact I would say its mainly due to lack of administrative support in dealing with students whose behavior is out of control, and lack of support from parents. STOP going straight to pay!!! I just luuuuvv how all the major networks do the same education story over and over telling us nothing new! . Texas does squat for its teachers. I've taught in Texas. What they want in their classrooms are nuns--complete and utter give everything and expect nothing in return type of service, never speak up, never complain, be a robot type of teacher. That's what Texas wants from teachers. The fact that they now have a program that paras can use to become teachers says it all.

I don’t have the mentality to be a teacher

poor pay, no budget for resources, aggressive students, protesting parents over every little thing, states passing dumb laws against learning. Yeah, i don't blame anyone for not wanting to be a teacher in this day and age.

These are great teachers. I love it!!!

PAY any American with bachelor degree willing to be a teacher $77,000+/Year so you do not have a teacher shortage! Its that simple!

1. More on parents to make sure their kid is properly disciplined. 2. Better pay Anything else?

💚🙏 we are gonna focus on this,drastically.... not messing around.. this is highly sensitive and important to do as much reasonable, appropriate changes

There isn't a teacher shortage. There is a shortage of teaching jobs that are willing to pay a livable salary and that give support to teaches. And that help teaches deal with difficult children.

This is my 6th year teaching. The pay needs to be increased, get rid of appraisals, and support with students' behavior.

Thank you, Abbott.

I thought the newsline was he physically tackled a teacher. 😂

Agree with everything but the part where the kid said that the teacher is also a friend. No. Teachers, like parents, should not be your friend. They're a professional who is tasked with teaching specific curricula.

I wanted to be a teacher but got burned from my host teacher. She blamed me for stuff and when my supervisor called me, I replied, “well, did she also let you know _______ from my side?” Just getting through the teacher certification is complicated and a ton of kissing up, even after passing the PPR and ELAR. I honestly don’t regret trying but relieved it didn’t go through. It’s too much to get accepted and approved, and too much stress maintaining your job.

I’m getting my BA in elementary education and have absolutely zero plans teaching in the USA. Crap pay, crap parents, and crap administration, also the fear you and the little ones may get gunned down.. People say “Teachers make too much!” Then wonder why there’s shortages. My state starts paying teachers at 32k a year. Or you can go to China and teach for around 40k with a nice apartment costing 300-600 a month, and with no property tax.

Why can’t this news anchor and the reporter be the teachers?

Texas does a HORRIBLE job rewarding advanced degrees. It’s not financially worthwhile considering the time and cost involved in earning a masters degree in education.

Get their legislators to teach

Even when I was in highschool (6 years ago) I knew the teachers didn’t make good money. This ain’t new

You want to retain teachers ? PAY THEM A LIVING WAGE.

amazing

❤ really should be the top issue for voters

Shout out to Angel Rivera, he used to be the principal at Rick Schneider Middle School in Houston.

This just feels like the same song and dance. This news story is played out. The industry just looks for fresh blood when needed

If they’re good teachers, they should be paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year!!

Public school system has BEEN needing reconstruction for the past two decades bruh With technology leading the next generation and AI things need to change now more than ever

Dang, that guy teaches at Poteet. No wonder those kids were tough at Academic Decathlon events. Those kids were getting taught good lol

As a teacher, saying, "You guys...," can get you in trouble.

I’m in my 20 something year as a spec ed teacher and am so over it. It gets worse and worse. Nobody checks in on sped except to come in and complain.

My first 5 yrs teaching was in Harris county, mid 80’s it was horrible then. Just saying

plenty of people are teachers but cant get jobs. this is a part of a larger plan......

How about paying them more?

Abbott is holding school funding increases and teacher wages hostages until he can get vouchers. Once vouches are approved, he will say sorry now no money for public schools. He is taking huge donations from billionaires who do not believe in public schools. Some charter schools in Colorado are getting public school money from Texas.

Good job superintendent Rivera! Enjoyed this.

the high school teacher went from lawyer to teacher cuz of a calling? I doubt that. I'd say he sucks at lawyering.

Like Australia, they probably have a unionised, protectionist racket in place for permanent staff. The rest, on contracts (rarely full time) are left transient and vulnerable. Try getting a bank loan in Australia if you are on contract or casual!

The kids are out of control, it starts at home with discipline which most are not doing. Teachers and staff are fed up

How come in schools they don’t teach kids how to be a hairstylist or barber or make up artist, fashion, designer, or even a graphic designer

Hey texas can pay for large sports complexes for high school sports but they cant pay teachers a living wage. You know where their priorities are.

Let me tell you, those of us who teach a STAAR course, it is not fun. Even when I try, it’s just not like it was even just years ago.

Thanks to the ridiculous occupational licensing in k-12 education, the teacher of the year in one state cannot get a job teaching in another state without an ocean of paperwork and red tape. I'm the author of EIGHT DAYS IN AN INNER CITY SCHOOL

The GOP war on education and educators has its consequences. I hope all teachers understand their value and walk away.

You can be a teacher....but first you gotta pay the state for the privilege. Why not just lower the barriers to entry?

i think all other places in the world, they worry more about no kids, no students...

Maybe pay them more?

Teachers should get the same pay they pay firefighters. We work harder but firefighters get paid more than teachers.

Poor behavior.low pay and they make you have a ton of credentials to teach. That's why I quit too

We don’t have a teacher problem… that is a symptom of the biggest problem we have. Our single family households are churning out people that are doing everything from making our schools unlivable to filling our prisons. You don’t have to like it agree with it or understand but that is the problem. Schools with good students have no problem getting teachers for far less money than schools full of criminals. Remember… the quality of a school isn’t decided by the board principal teachers or the kids. The quality of a school is 100% in the hands of the parents.

Pay the god damn teachers living wages and teach them how to teach properly!!!! Its not that damn hard people!!!!!

I have been teaching High school math for 8 years. I am one of the few people who actually like my job. I think technology masks a child's true understanding of the material. If AI is brought into education, I will resign. I want my students to think critically and form their own thoughts. AI has no place in the classroom. Furthermore, I will pull my children out of any school that uses AI for any reason.

COVID is not the reason things are falling apart in US education. I just retired after 26 years in public elementary in Texas. A living wage would be a big help so you can buy a middle class house after a few years. Many of us also have our own kids to put through university. Many of these teachers are the head of the house and bring in the largest wage which is poor. We need a GI Bill for teachers with low interest housing loans and free college for our kids at community college or reduced rates at the big state universities. Besides this discipline and behavior has fallen to an all time low. Kids will openly curse their teachers or attack them at times. They destroy school property and are not a held responsible. The admin does nothing and the parents blame the teachers for their kid's wild actions. Admin further, does not grow and develop young teachers and has no time to listen to the older teachers who are the core of the school. There was always an air of "If you do not like how things are run you are expendable and can transfer schools, transfer districts, or leave teaching." These older teachers should be kept at all costs since they have experience and can handle kids. Bonuses should be paid after every five years of teaching and grow each time after 15 years. I met very few poorly qualified lazy teachers in my over 28 total years of teaching in public and private. There is nothing wrong with an average teacher! If you can sit in that class and learn what the state requires that is fine. Some weight should be put on the students to work hard and for the parents to help them with the homework. This is very possible in elementary. I had many parents who could help but did nothing. They also did not motivate their kids to work hard and attain high grades. Finally, stop testing the kids to death. We had benchmark practice tests and benchmark tests almost biweekly to prepare for the big yearly state tests. Please let the teachers teach and do not teach to the test questions. Further, have honest grades that reflect the student's true ability and work habits. Grade inflation is killing our kids and keeps the parents in the dark as to their true abilities. All of this is the opposite of what I saw when teaching in Asia where it is a merit based educational system. After working hard in elementary you compete and test into the best middle, high schools, and universities across most East Asian countries.

When Mom’s for Liberty is bigotry, parents are not fit to parent and administrators that re oblivious of the reality…..but…..this IS A DECADES OLD PROBLEM!!!

There’s plenty of teachers, but you treat them like 💩. What do you think will happen when other jobs pay better, get respect and get more out of life other than health issues.

Two teachers who clearly are stool pigeons for the local school district

All they doing is doing more programming these children so they can be more a robot. It was never anything wrong with traditional teaching.

So many college students think that a college degree should be free. Well how about bringing back Teaching Colleges that specialize in just educating teachers. Depending on their grades, the taxpayers could pay for a good percentage of their college tuition. But they'd also have to agree to teach for, let's say 10 years. And if they remain teaching after that 10 years, they'd get some sort of bonus. We could do the same for Drs., RNs & caregivers. We also need to start building more mental health hospitals & rehab places. How about teaching young people about trade schools instead of just "you HAVE to get a college degree"? There are many trades that make a lot more money than fields where you have to have a 4 year degree.

Thought they said texas was perfect😂

Fluff piece

Well parents can’t do anything because of CPS lol

If you want to recruit and retain teachers pay then what they are worth. Also, hire teachers aids.

LBJ started as a Texas school teacher and somehow managed to parlay that into millions while serving in government.

Parents are too blame for the decline of the American educational system. COVID just became a convenient excuse.

You need drones.

This is all trumps fault. He has ruined this countries camaraderie.