The search for teachers:
Issues and strategies (cont'd)

Certain content areas in demand
When it comes to teaching content-areas, one thing seems clear: There is not a shortage of elementary teachers. For example, of the 402 teacher education majors who graduated from Board of Regents’ institutions in 2006 with one major, 45 percent were in elementary education. The others were spread among a variety of areas ranging from agricultural education to health and physical education.

A recent survey of school leaders appears to support the need for more teachers at the high school level. Of the 73 school districts that participated in the survey, a total of 377 applications were received for 44 elementary teaching positions available at these districts. That averages out to 8.57 applications per position. Compare that to high school Spanish, for example. Of the 73 districts responding to the survey, seven had positions available. The number of applicants statewide for these seven positions was 15, which averages out to 2.14 applicants per position. (NOTE: The survey did not account for one individual making multiple applications.)

“When you look strictly at instructional staff, we need more applicants at the high school level across the board,” Schopp said. “The one exception might be social studies teachers. Because it is such a broad certification, we may not have as many issues there.”

School leaders continue to point to math, science, world language, and band and music as shortage areas. Special education teachers at all levels continue to be in high demand. Some school leaders also mention the need for qualified language arts teachers, who cover a range of courses including English composition and literature.

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