The search for teachers:
Issues and strategies

Attend any meeting of school superintendents, and you’re bound to hear talk about teacher recruitment and retention. The words “teacher shortage” may even creep into the conversation.

“We’re very aware of the concern out there regarding teacher recruitment, retention and training,” said Education Secretary Rick Melmer. “We’ve heard the concerns voiced by superintendents and principals, and right now, we’re focused on a handful of targeted strategies to address some of the issues.”

While a number of forces can impact teacher recruitment and retention, three clearly rise to the top. One: Certain geographic locations continue to struggle to attract and retain teachers. Two: It’s harder to find qualified candidates for specific content areas. A third force that could become more of a factor in the years ahead is the retirement of the “Baby Boom” generation.

Location, location, location
It’s no secret that small, rural districts often have more difficulty attracting teachers than their more “metropolitan” counterparts. Districts in small, rural communities struggle to offer young college graduates the amenities, or social life, that many of them desire.

“Certainly salary can be an issue here, but there are just some very rural, very isolated locations that will not be the most attractive choices for young people just getting out of college,” said Melody Schopp, director of accreditation and teacher quality for the South Dakota Department of Education.

Districts have responded to these challenges with a number of creative strategies. Lemmon, for example, has taken the “homegrown” approach in at least one instance, by paying for a local resident to get her teaching degree. Todd County has taken advantage of the Teach for America program. And a handful of districts have employed retired military through the Troops to Teachers program.

Other districts use resources such as the E-Learning Center at Northern State University, and more recently, the South Dakota Virtual High School. “The E-Learning Center has really helped to fill a niche for small, geographically isolated districts,” Schopp said. “As the Virtual High School continues to expand its offerings, we expect it to become a popular option for students in a variety of settings – rural and metro areas alike.”

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