Public schools seek record number of emergency teacher certifications

• Emily Wendler
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Emily Wendler joined KOSU in February 2015, following graduate school at the University of Montana. While studying Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism with an emphasis on agriculture, a professor introduced her to radio and she fell in love. The Cincinnati native has since reported for KBGA, University of Montana’s college radio station, and Montana’s PBS Newsbrief. She was a finalist in a national in-depth radio reporting competition for an investigatory piece she produced on campus rape. She also produced in-depth reports on wind energy and local food for Montana Public Radio. Since moving to Oklahoma, Emily's work has won many awards and has been featured on NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Oklahoma’s State Board of Education is set to approve a record-breaking number of emergency teaching certifications at its meeting Thursday, a strong indication a statewide teacher shortage is still growing.

Oklahoma school districts requested more than 900 emergency teaching certifications in August alone.  Board members are expected to approve the requests, officials with the Oklahoma State Department of Education told StateImpact, bringing the total number of emergency certified teachers for the 2018-2019 school year to 2,153 — a roughly 9 percent increase from the 1,975 issued the previous school year.

Seven years ago, the board approved just 32 emergency teaching certifications.

Districts request permission to hire emergency certified candidates when they are unable to find traditionally qualified educators to fill open positions.

Oklahoma teachers got a $6,000 average pay raise this year, and there were hopes this would help turn the teacher shortage around. State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said competitive pay is a first step.

“Our teachers are needing resources in their classrooms, our students need textbooks, our new teachers need training,” she said.

Hofmeister said continued investment in education and respect for teachers will also help encourage educators to continue working in the classroom.