High attrition rates continue to plague Lee County School District

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County continues to lose employees at a heavy rate which officials hope to stymie through such things centralized hiring and guest teachers

Human Resources Executive Director Robert Dodig told the school board last week that the district is coming off of a year where it hired the most new school-based instructional staff of 678 employees which was also the year they lost the most employees 929 In fiscal year 2020 there was only a 134 position gap

“To keep up with it we have to do more to reverse the trend with employee termination ” he said

For fiscal year 2021 and 2022, the percentage of instructional personnel turnover is at 29 percent, compared to fiscal year 2020 of 19 percent

It increased in post-COVID year The 29 percent includes not just people that left the district but people that transferred within the district ” Dodig said “Eleven point seven percent in fiscal year 2022 transferred within the district, 17 percent terminated or left employment with the district

Non-instructional personnel turnover was at 34 7 percent for fiscal year 2022 compared to 26 7 percent the year prior

Our benchmark in our strategic plan is 8 percent which we have never met, Dodig said

The district, however, has exceeded the 75 percent mark of converting offers to hires with fiscal year 2021 and 2022 exceeding 80 percent

The critical issue lies among the percentage of teachers separating for non-compliance with credential requirements Dodig said the district s percentage of teachers separation for failing to comply continues the four-year trend below the 3 percent benchmark

One of the current and future strategy developments include enhancements to the insurance and benefits package, as well as centralized hiring within the next six months Dodig said the centralized hiring will take the burden off the schools, as the central office will send five or six teachers that would be eligible to be interviewed to the schoolhouse We are in the process of moving forward with guest teachers and the possibility of using a company in hiring guest teachers, Dodig said, adding that they are also looking into hopefully expanding their cultural exchange program “We have 20 cultural exchange teachers ”

Superintendent Dr Christopher Bernier said he has been sitting down with teachers to get a climate of their conditions and what they are looking for with the top two being pay and benefits He said people join an organization and business as a sense of purpose and ability to make an impact

“If we can hire 678 but not lose 900 we are fully staffed Certainly teachers are hard to find and support professionals are hard to find Human resources is finding them, Bernier said It has to be about retention and retention is a process that starts on onboarding and continues in our school building We should have more of a focus on what does it take to keep teachers ”

Bernier said the goal is very simple human resources will be effective if they use it as helpful and responsive He said their primary mission is to be helpful and responsive to drawing employees and making them effective

“I really applaud you going and talking to teachers without administrators ” Board chair Armor Persons said We have to listen up and they have to speak up That would solve a lot of problems before they decide to leave We need to be proactive, get some groups together on a regular basis to talk Board member Sam Fisher said it comes down to human element the culture of a school which he said they need to improve upon so talented students come back and teach within the system Board member Jada Langford Fleming agreed that it is about the culture of the school where the kids grew up which encourages them to get into the field of education and return to the district to start their career

I knew there was wonderful teachers that inspired me to go into education It starts from there At the end of the day teachers want to feel valued and what they do matters As a teacher you said the word impact You want to make impacts especially in a career like this Teachers want a personnel connection and want to be seen as professionals, Langford Fleming said

Tommy Bohanon Foundation’s annual Man UP Seminar slated for Feb. 8

L o c a l t e e n s i n u n d e r s e r v e d a r e a s rarely get the opportunity to learn reallife skills or have access to building relationships with local business leaders

The Tommy Bohanon Foundation is holding its annual Man UP Seminar Wednesday, Feb 8, at the Collaboratory in downtown Fort Myers where several local young men will get the chance to learn skills that will help them transition into their careers

“Our goal is to offer education above and beyond what they can get through t r a d i t i o n a l s c h o o l i n g , s a i d T o m m y Bohanon, who co-founded the Tommy B o h a n o n F o u n d a t i o n w i t h h i s w i f e Katie “We spend the entire day forming relationships among the students and business mentors, teaching these young men what they need to know to succeed as working professionals These seminars like everything we do at the foundation, are done with the hope and intention of positively impacting their future and the SWFL community ”

Through experience and knowledge as local business leaders, Aaron Barney, COO of Fort Myers-based Digital Lead P e r f o r m a n c e ; R i c k W i l l i a m s f o r m e r e x e c u t i v e v i c e p r e s i d e n t & C F O o f C O N R I C p r + m a r k e t i n g ; H e n r i k M a r g a r d , C O O o f N o r - T e c h H i -

Performance Boats; and members of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Fort Myers Fire Department will mentor the young men

During the Man UP Seminar students will be able to engage directly with mentors and ask questions as they are guided through various topics, including how to attain scholarships, ace interviews and make a great first impression Students will leave the Man UP seminar knowing how to properly tie a necktie, and the importance of how a man carries himself as it leaves as lasting an impression as his own personal brand in the business world

The Tommy Bohanon Foundation is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to supporting at-risk youth reach their highest potential Its programs and comm u n i t y o u t r e a c h e v e n t s h a v e h e l p e d countless kids in the Southwest Florida area Opportunities to help through volunteering participating or donating can b e f o u n d a t t o m m y b o h a n o n f o u n d ation org For more information, please contact Katie Bohanon at katie@tommybohanonfoundation org

Tommy Bohanon Foundation

The Tommy Bohanon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting young athletes to reach their highest potential on and off the playing field Former NFL fullback Tommy Bohanon a North Fort Myers High graduate returned to his hometown in Southwest Florida to pursue his vision of ending generational poverty for a t - r i s k y o u t h T h e f o u n d a t i o n f u n d s annual scholarships sports equipment grants to local high schools, youth football camps, seminars and programs, as well as funding for other local nonprofits F o r mo r e in f o r matio n ab o u t th e T o m m y B o h a n o n F o u n d a t i o n v i s i t TommyBohanonFoundation org or call 239-671-0441