An Approach to Alleviating Teacher Shortages in Spotsylvania County

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/economics/crisis-catastrophe-schools-scramble-find-teachers-rcna98083

Following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Virginia public schools have been facing record-low teacher retention rates. This teacher shortage is most evident in Spotsylvania County where students are still enrolled in virtual Math and English classes. Teachers are attributing these rates to the demoralization they face, stemming from local politics. Parents' increasing concerns regarding the students’ academics are bringing attention to the school board’s current action plan.

While low teacher retention rates are often attributed to low wages, feedback from faculty in Spotsylvania County reflects otherwise. Staff claim that they are aware of these wage discrepancies. Teachers like Belén Rodas share the sentiment that “Spotsylvania teachers have always known that they would receive better pay in neighboring districts.” Instead, they attribute the shortage to teacher demoralization. As politics have moved to the forefront of daily life over the past few years, these conversations have also made their way into the classrooms. Too many teachers are demoralized and lack instruction from administrators on how to engage in political conversations, causing teachers to resign and leave 7.6 percent of positions unfilled for the 2022-23 school year. This ultimately contributes to the current state of Spotsylvania’s education system. The next steps are vital in reversing the teacher turnover rates. Parents and teachers expect a fair and feasible plan to be implemented to move away from the shortage.

When working to solve the teacher shortage in the community, three areas of importance are personal freedom, political feasibility, and the ability to be implemented. Regarding personal freedoms, with both parents and teachers feeling restricted, it is important that both groups feel their rights are being respected and they have choices to make. In addition to this, evaluating the feasibility of the solution's acceptance from parents and teachers with diverse political thought is crucial to consider the role of local politics in causing teacher demoralization. The more likely the Spotsylvania School Board is to establish a policy that parents and teachers accept, the more politically feasible it is to be implemented. Finally, when considering different alternatives, how well Spotsylvania’s public schools can implement a solution while weighing the county’s limitations on funding and available licensed teachers is very important. 

The sooner Spotsylvania County will be able to implement a policy that follows this criterion, the more likely the teacher retention rate will increase. A policy implementing further regulations in a politically divided environment is optimal; it protects personal freedoms while maintaining political feasibility. Thus, legislation being considered would enforce curriculum-focused regulations and aim to restrict divisive classroom discussions. Considering all of these factors is necessary to solve teacher shortages, especially in Spotsylvania County. 

Action has already been taken to address this issue, like focusing on Tim Kaine’s PREP Act. Parents, teachers, and school boards all have an essential role. An unbiased approach focused on academic achievement should be a priority. The PREP Act states that it aims to focus “Title II and Title III of the Higher Education Act on evidence-based programs designed to develop a diverse workforce that is well-prepared to provide the educational opportunities students need…”. This program was enacted in July of 2023, so data is limited on its progress, however, the act calls for additional funding which has been viewed as effective by staff. According to a school board member, Rabih Abuismail, the PREP Act is “a first step to get the ball rolling.”. The goal is for teachers to be supported by the administration and be given more choices and training in handling a classroom. Although this act is already in motion, its implementation will continue to be a long process because of the training that must occur and the funding required. 

Additional policies are being implemented statewide. For example, in Bedford County, Virginia, a new policy, “teaching about controversial issues,” was just approved. Restricting what topics can be engaged within the classroom can help diffuse the conflict. Further, by making the discussion of controversial topics prohibited, it ensures that students won’t be exposed to opinionated rhetoric. The appropriate content can be determined by both the parents and the school board together to reach a fair consensus. This solution offers choices to parents which will decrease the political turmoil in classrooms. It also limits the opportunity for demoralization because controversial opinions are not being shared. While guaranteeing that every teacher is adhering to these restrictions may be difficult, implementing pre-existing school regulations will not be.  

In addition to the steps being taken today, I propose that Spotslyvania implement further regulations focused on the curriculum in a politically divided environment through a state-operated program. By regulating the content in the classroom, you achieve both the addition of administrative instruction and eliminate teacher demoralization. Parents are given the choice to decide what their children are exposed to, and teachers can continue to teach without having to face disrespect based on their political ideologies. Realistically, it is expected that students will ask questions about this content, and with this new instruction, teachers will be prepared to respond appropriately. Since Spotsylvania already has regulations on appropriate teacher behavior, adding to the legislation will not be difficult to do. 

To implement this, committees can be built that include board members, administrators, teachers, parents, union representatives, and attorneys to write classroom speech regulations. Lastly, to ensure the best implementation of this alternative, teachers should be required to sign this policy that creates regulations for the school year and be subject to disciplinary actions if they don’t follow the protocol. 

The state of education in Spotsylvania needs to be addressed, and by doing so, it can serve as a model county to inspire school boards nationally that face the same issues. In this time of teacher shortages and political division, it is crucial to maintain a focus on alleviating the scarcity of educators and ensuring equitable access to quality education for all. Implementing regulations and policies that prioritize the rights of students, parents, and teachers can forge a path toward a brighter future in education, where every learner has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.