Teachers testify on causes of educator shortage

MEA Members Share Reasons Behind Educator Shortages

Several MEA members, including Michigan Teacher of the Year Leah Porter, testified in March at a hearing on the varied causes behind growing educator shortages before the Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid and Department of Education.

The subcommittee chaired by Rep. Brad Paquette (R-Niles) heard wide-ranging explanations for why educators are leaving the profession and not enough young people are completing preparation programs to replace them, including declining compensation, lack of respect, and inadequate resources.

You can watch the full video of testimony from MEA and AFT Michigan members at tinyurl.com/ educatorstestify, and also step forward to add your voice!

MEA is gathering more teacher perspectives to share with lawmakers on this subject. Go to mea.org/reasonsbehind-shortage and find the link to provide your thoughts, ideas and experiences in an easy-to-use form that will be submitted for the subcommittee’s review.

Following are excerpts from MEA members’ testimony, lightly edited for space and clarity. As Michigan Teacher of the Year this year, I have had the opportunity to visit many schools and speak with teachers across the state about their experiences over the last few years. This unique opportunity has left me in total awe at the incredible educators we have in Michigan. But what I have seen and heard is the current teaching environment has become endlessly exhausting with no relief in sight. For years, the educational system in Michigan could be seen as a cracking dam, years of neglect and under-funding stripping away at its strength. The pandemic has now caused this dam to break. And we’re going to see and feel the impact of decisions that have been made and are being made right now for years to come.

It is heart-wrenching to know we have phenomenal educators across the state and many are feeling so overwhelmed and unheard and saying they don’t know how much longer that they can do this. School professionals are not OK. The challenges, stress, and pressure of this school year have far surpassed the previous pandemic teaching year in ways that were impossible to fathom last summer. While the past two years have had so many hurdles, the crisis in schools has been brewing for a long time. Years of funding cuts, loss of pension and affordable insurance, consolidation of staff, additional work responsibilities from absorbed positions, and the perpetual attacks on education systems have created the perfect storm we are now facing.

Educators are resilient and creative problem solvers. They have been keeping this educational system afloat for years as it has been crumbling around them. Teachers don’t ask for much. They care tremendously for their students, and they are in this profession because they care about the future of not only the children in front of them but also those still to come. There has never been a more critical time to support educators. Respect them, trust them, recognize the very real challenges that those in schools are facing each day. Show educators you see and hear them through your actions, the expectations that you’re putting on educators, and through your support. The welfare of teachers depends on it. The structure of our school systems depend on it. And the children of Michigan deserve well-funded structures in which to learn and thrive.

Leah Porter

third-grade teacher Holt 16 years

In 2018, as Michigan Teacher of the Year, I had the opportunity to visit classrooms all around the country, and one in California had a big impact on me. I visited a Grow Your Own program called Educators Rising in a community that was mostly Hispanic with teachers that were mostly white. I was so inspired that I came back home and had a look at Kentwood as a whole and East Kentwood High School in particular. We’re the most diverse public high school in the state of Michigan. But the teachers at East Kentwood High School are over 95% white, which means our students are not seeing themselves at the front of the room. Research has shown that minority students who have at least one minority teacher perform better academically and are more likely to attend college.

I went to my administration and said, “I’d really love to get this going at East Kentwood High School.” Now three years later, this is the third season we have had Ed Rising. I reached out to the current teacher, Jasmine Ramahi, to see how things are going. She said the students in the class represent the diversity of the larger student population, which was one of the big goals. And she has taken the students through a rigorous curriculum with a focus on equity in education. She is getting these students into classrooms to observe teachers. She’s also taking them to local universities and working to make partnerships to help students with scholarship opportunities for those who choose to go into education.

I’m sure you’re all aware that the [governor’s] current budget proposal includes $150 million for Grow Your Own programs like Ed Rising. And I certainly hope the story of what’s happening at East Kentwood High School will help you all to be in support of these programs.

Luke Wilcox

high school math teacher Kentwood 21 years

I’ve seen a lot of my peers that I graduated college with who are no longer teaching. They were great educators, but they’re moving on to other things for a variety of reasons. With the right support, maybe they would have stayed and had a chance to make a difference in the lives of children. When asked why they’re leaving, some of them mentioned the stress of the job and the impact on their mental health. Others have indicated the workload is not sustainable, myself included. Others have left teaching to pursue other fields where they’re better compensated and have a better work-life balance.

What can be done to better support teachers? The first is to release some of the burdens required to become an educator. Between the high cost of college, the unpaid student teaching experience, and the modest starting salaries, we put a lot of burden on new teachers. Anything that the state could do to relieve that financial burden would tremendously help, from scholarships to paying student teachers stipends, etc. Making these changes could attract more people into teaching, and put them in a better position to succeed once they graduate.

I would also say more work could be done to better support students. This includes counselors, social workers, nurses, substitute teachers, and support to lower class sizes. My district, and I’m assuming many districts in general, really struggle with substitutes, so we give up our planning time very often having to cover classes because we don’t have other adults in the building who can. When teachers are supported, children are supported likewise. And when our children are thriving, teachers are more able to do incredible things in the classroom.

Danielle Groendyk

high school English teacher Oakridge 3 years

To succeed in the teaching profession requires physical and mental endurance, strong time management skills, constant flexibility, and many other skills to manage behavior, plan effective and engaging lessons, provide ongoing assessment, feedback, and reflection. Social worker, nurse, and organizational managers are some of the other hats we wear. And since COVID, many of us are doing custodial duties due to lack of custodians across the district... Love of learning and children is not driving away our teachers. The myriad of responsibilities and harsh realities that take away time and energy needed for our lessons and for student interactions contributes to this teacher shortage.

Disruptive behaviors have increased steadily in our classrooms. New teachers have left our profession because of ongoing behavior concerns such as students throwing chairs, knocking down tables, hitting, and kicking. Many districts do not have the funds to provide needed help for struggling students. We share a social worker, who is in our building one day a week. There is a long wait list for students to be seen by our social worker. Many of our students will not receive the much-needed support that she can provide.

Another reason why I truly believe teachers are leaving the district is our evaluation system, which is not appropriate for the realities we see in our classrooms, and it certainly is not appropriate for all grade levels. In Grand Rapids public schools, we have the highest poverty in Kent County. As a high-needs district, we have inadequate funding, our resources are limited, and our test scores are lower than some neighboring districts. Why would a new teacher stay in a profession that evaluates them in this manner?

Diane Rodolfo

First-grade teacher Grand Rapids 20 years

One of the major changes in the past 10 years is the volume of young people dealing with crippling anxiety and trauma. These kids show up with debilitating issues, and schools lack the manpower and resources to address them all. We front-line teachers do our best, but what has changed is that for many of us, our best isn’t enough. Moving forward, we must be mindful about what we’re requiring of the teaching profession and also how we talk about the teaching profession. Our veteran educators are experiencing burnout, and new teachers struggle to gain their footing.

We need to build better mental health support systems for students. Teachers cannot do this work alone. We need to increase the number of talented young people committing themselves to education and compensate them. Our district here in Whitehall is trying to hire staff to fill this need but credentialed and qualified staff are few and far between. We should consider scholarships, stipends for student teachers, and better mentoring programs. We need to make the career of teaching much more attractive to talented young people.

My 19-year-old daughter declared her major last December. She chose education like her mom and dad. That same month, she attended her first school board meeting. What she saw was horrifying: people on the attack, shouting one another down, naming teachers and slamming them. Not surprisingly, she’s now questioning whether she wants to subject herself to the realities of being a teacher... We need to change the conversation and support structures for teachers so intelligent people like my daughter might be inspired to carry out her family legacy of teachers and our nation’s legacy of public education.

Craig Christensen

middle school English teacher Whitehall 27 years

Elections

Delegates to the MEA Representative Assembly will elect two members to represent Michigan on the NEA Board of Directors. These are biographies and candidate statements of the two announced candidates for those positions.

Heather Schulz

Heather Schulz is currently in her 25th year as a middle school science teacher in Lakeview Public Schools in St. Clair Shores and has always been a proud member of the Lakeview Education Association and MEA-NEA Local 1. She has served in numerous roles in her local association, including crisis chair, president, MEA and NEA RA delegate, vice president for grievance, secretary and building representative. Schulz has also held several elected offices at the region level which include president, vice president and MEA Board of Directors for Region 6. She has been an alternate to the NEA Board of Directors. In addition to her many elected positions, Schulz has also served on the MEA Budget and Finance Committee for the past four years. In June of 2021, she was elected as the Vice President for Bargaining of MEA-NEA, Local 1. Schulz reports that over 20 years of serving in leadership positions has strengthened her commitment to MEA and to public education.

STATEMENT

My name is Heather Schulz. I am running for a position on the NEA Board of Directors.

We have many challenges facing all of us in public education, both in Michigan and the nation. Continued underfunding of public education, staff shortages, attacks by parent and community groups, continued issues of inequity and access, and laws that demean and demoralize our professions are only a few of these challenges. MEA has a tradition of being at the forefront when looking for solutions and tackling these issues. As a problem solver, I want to be a part of this work. Being a member of the NEA Board of Directors will allow me to participate in this important work at the national level.

Inherent in union membership and activism, is collaboration. I love collaboration and being part of a team. Collaboration requires listening, having an open mind, adapting to new ideas, participation and speaking up. The skills and qualities needed for collaboration are also needed to be a good advocate. These are all qualities and skills that I can bring to the table, and why I think that I will be a good advocate for all MEA members at NEA. Whether it is lobbying legislators, or collaborating with colleagues from across the country, I think that my experience, the skills I developed, and my commitment to public education will serve me well as a representative of MEA on the NEA Board of Directors.

Vote Heather Schulz for NEA Board of Directors.

Wendy Winston

Wendy Winston is a Michigan native who has been teaching for more than 20 years, currently in Grand Rapids Public Schools. She has served as an MEA Political Action Leader, MEA Battleground Summer leader, and the vice chair of the Michigan Democratic Party educators’ caucus. She was honored to be elected as a Joe Biden delegate to the 2020 Democratic National Convention. She currently holds a position on Michigan’s STEM Education Advisory Council and was a regional semi‑finalist for Michigan Teacher of the Year in 2020. She has been trained through NEA Member Voices, MEA political bootcamp, and See Educators Run programs. Winston has served in numerous elected and appointed offices at the local and region levels, including treasurer, PAC chair, bargaining team, RA delegate, and NEA RA Region 9 coordinator. She currently serves on MEA’s Communications Committee and Screening & Recommendations Committee.

STATEMENT

I am excited to be a candidate for NEA Director representing Michigan. Raised in a union household in West Michigan, I grew up understanding that unionism is working in solidarity to stand up for others.

Teaching math and science in underfunded districts like Flint Community Schools and Grand Rapids Public Schools led me to raise my voice for education justice. Early in my career, I compared conditions in urban classrooms and suburban districts. The inequities were unjust. I couldn’t remain silent and stepped up to get more involved in the MEA. I will keep fighting until every child has access to an excellent education and appropriate resources regardless of their zip code. My energy toward education justice resulted in recognition as an NEA Top Political Activist.

Membership in the MEA has allowed me to educate community members and elected officials about current issues in education. During my 20 years as an educator, I campaigned to improve working conditions for colleagues and educational experiences for students. I speak out at board meetings and rallies and encourage others to do the same. Organizing members to show up and speak up is one of the most rewarding and inspiring parts of my advocacy. I proudly organized a successful solidarity picket to show support for our striking United Auto Workers, Babies over Billionaires townhall, and the Grand Rapids “Shine the Light” Rally to draw attention to the MEA 3% case.

To continue improving our education system, we need to work together toward the goal of electing friends of public education. I have canvassed and phone banked for political candidates and important issues. I work to build and maintain relationships with sitting elected officials. I’m honored to serve as the Vice Chair of the Educators Caucus to Michigan’s Democratic Party, local PAC chair, and a former MEA political action leader.

If elected as NEA Director, I will continue fighting for improved working conditions for educators and just learning environments for students. I ask for your vote and would be incredibly proud to serve as your NEA Director.

Spring into action and enjoy the outdoors

Spring is the season of new beginnings. When you look outside, the snow has melted, the flowers are blooming and the temperature is rising. This makes for a great time to raise your arms, stretch out and go for a morning jog, an evening bike ride or maybe a midday walk in your neighborhood on the weekend.

Health experts say that exercising outdoors instead of inside the gym is not only good for you physically, but also benefits your mental health. It can help relieve stress, and help you feel more energized, happier and less tired.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends physical activity of at least 30 minutes a day for five days a week. So why not break free, breathe in the fresh air and have a little fun outdoors.

MESSA Wellness can provide helpful tips or exercise programs to get you started. Visit messa.org/Wellness for inspiration.

By Ross Wilson, MESSA Executive Director