Schools dealing with teacher shortage

By Angie Thompson/senior reporter

TIFTON — Nearly 30 teachers from the “baby boomer” generation retired from the Tift County public school system this year, and 80 new teachers have been hired, according to the system’s human resource director.

Kevin Dobard said teacher shortages are usually the most severe in the subjects of math and science. The vacancies in those areas and others were partially filled by 17 people who have alternative certifications — people who have four-year college degrees in math, accounting, engineers, biology or business and bring with them real-world experience, but not education degrees. In May, seven of those who originally had alternative certifications completed the process to become officially certified as teachers.

Non-certified teachers with alternative certifications are required to take a one-semester course “Identification and Education of

Exceptional Children” and serve a one-year supervised practicum. They teach in the classroom under the direction of a mentor teacher and a supervisor from Coastal Plains RESA for one year and are required to create a portfolio by the end of the school year.

“I think they bring experiences because a lot of them have been out in the corporate world,” Dobard said. “When they decide to switch to teaching, I think it is because of the passion they have and they decide they want to teach and give back. They want to make that change.”

Only one vacancy exists now, Dobard said, and that is for a half-time counselor at Northeast Campus of Tift County High School.

“We feel like that vacancy will be filled soon,” Dobard said.

Dobard said most of those who left did so because of retirements or spouses relocated. Some decided to move back to their hometowns and counties. Dobard said there are approximately 700 teachers in the system.

“We try to hire people with deep Tifton roots, as long as they are quality individuals, and that way the longevity is there,” Dobard said.

Dobard said the system advertises for teachers through teachgeorgia.org.

“I can screen those who apply and see which ones passed the Georgia Assessments for Certification of Teachers and I can see those who might have ethics violations and other information,” Dobard said.

After Dobard’s screening, applications are e-mailed to local principals who conduct interviews with several of the applicants and send a recommendation back to Dobard. From there, Dobard sends the information to Patrick Atwater, superintendent, who looks the information over and brings it before members of the Tift County Board of Education in executive session.

Dobard said he doesn’t believe the number of people who want to become teachers and are striving to educate themselves to become teachers is decreasing.

“The baby boomers are retiring and that affects everything,” Dobard said. “The generations that are following them don’t have the numbers going into teaching that are matching the retirement numbers.”

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.

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