Need For Teachers Getting Critical
Missouri Board of Education President Charlie Shields says teacher recruitment and retention is the most pressing issue facing schools across the state. In an opinion article, Shields says the Missouri Legislature has discussed other education-related topics this session, but he says the state must come together to quickly address teacher recruitment and retention efforts.
The latest state budget proposal would boost the minimum teacher pay from 25-thousand-dollars annually to at least 38-thousand-dollars. Another provision would give experienced teachers an opportunity to get a pay boost through professional development and student mentoring. The statewide teacher recruitment and retention commission officially kicks off its work next month and is scheduled to explain its results to the Missouri Board of Education in October.