[HPFGU-OTChatter] Teacher shortage..Just a silly rant..could use advice though

[Richelle Votaw]

Melanie wrote:

> What states have major shortages?  Are there any states with shortages in the 
> elementary school years?  I'm finding more and more that I should have just 
> gone into social work to begin with, but hindsight is always 20/20.  

Come on down to Louisiana.  Plenty of teacher shortages here.  They have trouble getting certified teachers in New Orleans always, and I know when I first started teaching (five years ago) I was still getting calls from East Baton Rouge parish several weeks into the school year from principals still looking for teachers.  I know many schools in Texas usually have plenty of openings as well, they usually come over here to the teacher job fairs.  Plus several districts usually come from California looking to hire teachers.  

Obviously, there are school districts where it is very difficult to get on.  Livingston Parish, for one, here in Louisiana.  Don't even bother unless you're related to someone.  Seriously.  But for the most part there are always a number of openings.  My school hired at least 9 or 10 new teachers this year alone, six of them are brand new teachers (the others are transfers).  Naturally, the pay scale is lower down here in the south, but the cost of living is too.  Especially if you're content to rent an apartment and not looking to buy a house right away.

Richelle


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