Hicks. “We’ve over regulated public school systems to the point where teachers feel micromanaged. The walkout was never about teacher raises but ultimately the result of dwindling investment for kids and a growing need for teachers to feel supported in the classroom. We have to find a way to stop telling schools ‘this is what we have left over in the budget’ and instead ask what investment they need.” Hicks said what keeps her up at night is the record number of teachers leaving the workforce in Oklahoma, in addition to fewer students interested in careers in education. “It feels like we’re not ever getting ahead in the teacher shortage to get the results we want,” said Hicks. “The strongest indicator of a child’s academic success in the classroom is their teacher. We need to be smart about investment and honest about what kids need to thrive.” THE SOLUTIONS Statewide support The OSDE is on a mission to prioritize retaining and supporting teachers statewide. “We have announced many initiatives under our Ready Together Oklahoma plan,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister. “What one teacher needs to reduce stress and burnout may vary vastly from what another teacher needs. But we believe that each initiative has something to offer that will benefit both teachers and students.” A new teacher induction program provides wraparound support for early career educators, pairing rural teachers with an urban or suburban veteran teacher coach as well as a mentor in their school to help them get to know the community. The new teacher receives instructional and curriculum coaching as well as social-emotional support. Coaches and mentors like Eschbach receive professional development and support from the OSDE, building renewed dedication to the profession among teacher leaders. “The more we can support new teachers, the more they will be able to stay in the job, hone their craft and be there for generations of kids in Oklahoma,” said Eschbach.
THE CAUSE Oklahoma’s education statistics reflect the overwhelm of teachers around the state. Summertime teacher retirements were up 38 percent in 2021, compared to 2020, with more than 2,200 Oklahoma teachers leaving the profession, according to the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System. Teachers have been managing from crisis to crisis throughout the pandemic especially, amidst fickle and often negative public sentiment. “Being in education right now is heavy,” said Kirk. “Two years ago, everybody was talking about how important teachers are, and in less than 18 months, that’s switched to how lazy teachers are. That public sentiment swayed quickly.” The Oklahoma State Board of Education reports issuing 2,673 emergency teacher certifications prior to start of the 2021-2022 school year, already nearing the total of 2,801 for the entire 2020-21 school year. Oklahoma’s average teacher salary lags behind the national average by more than $10,000, according to the National Education Association. Across the United States, Oklahoma ranks 30th in teacher pay, according to Wallet Hub, with an average of $53,617, compared to the national average of $65,090. In Oklahoma, starting salaries for teachers average $36,601, or $39,381 for those who enter the profession with a doctorate degree, like Kirk. Low pay coupled with increased burdens due to the pandemic, an educator shortage and general lack of respect for the profession only serve to frustrate and undercut the individuals who are committed to teaching the next generation. “There’s a growing sentiment to undermine expert and professional expertise,” said Sen. Carri Hicks, a former educator and member of the Oklahoma Senate Education Committee. “Educators are highly trained, but the mentality is that anyone can do it.” Hicks joined her first picket line with her father during the teacher strike of 1990 to support her dad, who taught for 32 years. Ironically as the Teacher Walkout of 2018 loomed, Hicks and her dad were on the picket line yet again, this time her father supporting her as a classroom teacher. “It’s frustrating that the more things change, the more they stay the same,” said
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