Missouri Education Commissioner Dr. Margie Vandeven and the Blue Ribbon Commission detailed their efforts in addressing what was labeled a statewide teacher recruitment and retention “crisis” during their final public engagement forum held Thursday, Nov. 17, at Poplar Bluff Schools.

Prior to the tour of congressional districts, which began last month in the northwest part of the state, the Missouri State Board of Education unanimously adopted the committee’s recommendations that were divided by level of priority.

“This is not a teacher crisis, it’s a workforce development and future of our state crisis,” stated Mary Schrag, who represents the 8^th District on the BOE. Over 50 patrons were in attendance at Kay Porter Theater including educators, R-I school board members, parents and concerned community members.

Schrag explained how at the end of last year the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Blue Ribbon Commission was appointed to develop actionable steps to support the future of the education profession, beginning its work in January. The 20-page report that resulted features nine priorities that appointed officials feel are attainable with public support during the next legislative session.

“In order for students’ learning to be successful, you have to have good teachers,” said Dr. Paul Katnik of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, noting that the correlation is backed by 50 years of research. Students who have highly effective teachers are more likely to attend college and earn larger salaries, according to the report. Still, the vacancy rate at schools in Missouri is greater than the national average, as teachers bounce from district to district to seek higher pay, if not exit the field altogether within the first few years.

Immediate priorities to address the issue include increasing the starting teacher salary in state statute and continuing to fund the new Teachers Baseline Salary Grant program, which the Poplar Bluff School District already applied; establishing sustainable funding for Grow Your Own programs such as R-I’s Pathways for Paraprofessionals pilot; using newly created Innovative Waivers to implement team-based teaching models such as Poplar Bluff Schools teacher induction program support system (TIPSS); as well as prioritizing funding the Career Ladder program.

Additional short and long-term recommendations for lawmakers include establishing a statewide fund to take the place of the Teacher Baseline Salary program; increasing support for mental health resources for educators; providing more tuition forgiveness options; and making salary supplements available for high-needs positions and for teachers with National Board Certification.

“What we expect of our teachers is to educate our children because we don’t want to or can’t do it ourselves,” said Aaron Decker, a Poplar Bluff banker and former law enforcement officer, who was selected to serve on the Blue Ribbon Commission. “Somewhere along the way society has gotten away from treating [teaching] as a well-respected career.”

According to Missouri Statute 163.172, which has remained unchanged since 2005, the base pay for teachers with bachelor's degrees is only $25,000 and $33,000 with a master's, ranking the state the lowest alongside Montana for minimum new teacher wages. Missouri also ranks 50^th in the percentage of education funding that is allocated from the state level, requiring schools to be heavily reliant on local tax dollars, causing “those who need the most to receive the least,” the report suggests.

“What is one school-level factor that improves outcomes for kids? Teachers,” Vandeven concluded. “If we know that, shouldn’t we invest in them?”

To view the complete report of the Blue Ribbon Commission, visit: Dese MO Gov.

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Cutline: (From left) Missouri Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven addresses questions from educators in the audience, while Dr. Paul Katnik, Mary Schrag and Aaron Decker look on.