Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1458924
Recent data from the National Education Association shows that America's educators, who have persevered through the hardest school years in memory, are beyond tired — they are exhausted, increasingly burned out, and, nationally, more than half of them are indicating that they are ready to leave the profession they love. Education employees have shouldered the additional workload brought on by staffing sh ortages and complicated by students' evolving needs in these trying times. They have stepped up time and time and again. They've prioritized students even in the face of illness and uncertainty. More than 3,000 education employees were surveyed as part of a national polling effort conducted by a polling firm contracted by NEA. Of these 3,000+ respondents, 67% reported burnout as a "very serious issue," a nd 90% indicated it is a "very serious or somewhat serious issue." Survey respondents pointed to general stress from the pandemic, student absences, and unfilled job openings— particularly for ESPs and substitutes—leading to additional workloads for remaining staff as key stressors. More than half (55%) of surveyed members say they are more likely to leave or retire from education sooner than planned bec ause of the pandemic. That's almost double the number who said the same in July of 2020. Of survey respondents, Black and Hispanic educators were most likely to say they are now more likely to retire or leave early, which could leave the teaching profession less diverse. NEA President Becky Pringle described the future of our nation's public education workforce as "a five-alarm crisis." She told Newsweek in February, "We are facing an exodus as more than half of our nation's teachers and other school staff are now indicating they will be leaving education sooner than planned. If we're serious about getting every child the support they need to thrive, our elected leaders across the nation need to address this crisis now." Wyoming's education workforce isn't embroiled in five- alarm flames yet, but the emb ers have caught fire. "In my county, we have a teacher shortage," Rep. Sandy Newsome shared on the House floor. "I know along the I- 80 Corridor there's a teacher shortage," she said. "We were paying our teachers more [in Wyoming] than any other state, and then we stopped that increase. That leap we took has now been eroded. We are on par for teacher salaries with our surrounding states. We no longer lea d the pack." Other lawmakers echo Rep. Newsome's sentiment. Rep. Jerry Paxton, a retired school principal, says he has traveled the state meeting with administrators. "The #1 problem is always the same," he says, "they have a great deal of difficulty hiring and retaining staff. It's an extremely difficult problem for them, and it's getting worse." Rep. Cathy Connolly shared with her colleagues on the House floor that, according to one study presented to the Joint Education Committee, Wyoming teaching salaries have shown little growth since 2012. This same study found that teaching wages have fallen relative to salaries of other comparable occupations in Wyoming from a ratio of 96% to 85%. "Wyoming is losing its competitive edge relative to other states," says Connolly. She shared in the House that there w ere, as of February, more than 200 vacancies in education across the state. "All of this," she said, "and we haven't even thought about the pandemic." WEA President Grady Hutcherson says he's hearing from members across the state who are burned out—feeling under-appreciated and stretched too thin and even considering leaving the profession. "I see firsthand the imprint of fatigue from this pandemic on Wy oming's education employees," Hutcherson shared with WyoFile. "I've heard from members in every region of our state that they are tired, they are burnt out, and they need additional support." Federal relief dollars are working to offer support for students and educators as they contend with the additional stress and challenges brought on by the pandemic. WEA is currently working in concert with locals acro ss the state and the Wyoming Department of Education to include educator voice in districts' spending plans for American Rescue Plan funds. "Wyoming must prioritize the needs of our students and education employees now more than ever before," says President Hutcherson. "Currently, we have the tools in the form of federal relief dollars through the American Rescue Plan. We need districts to use these dol lars to bolster mental health resources for students and education employees, to improve compensation— especially for education support professionals—and to attract and retain substitutes." But, American Rescue Plan dollars are intended to be transformational for Wyoming students and remedy the consequences of COVID-19—not supplant districts' typical operating budgets. Wyoming's education system needs su turing with adequate funding. A simple bandage in the form of one- time federal relief funds won't heal the employment crisis breaking open in public education across the state. If we don't heal it quickly and stem this exodus of educators beginning to flow from our state, our students are the ones who will bear the scars. Working with WEA, the University of Wyoming's College of Education is now fielding a teacher satisfaction survey. Please help us identify your priorities and challenges as a classroom teacher. By: Amanda Turner Take the survey at bit.ly/teacher_satisfaction_survey or scan the QR code to complete this survey. It is anonymous and independent. You do not need to complete every question. Only certified personnel currently teaching in Wyoming public schools are eligible to participate. 21