Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for June 8, 2006 WHEN TEACHING IS A BEACH

From the Miami Herald...

An estimated 3,000 teachers are expected to attend a two-day recruiting fair in Tampa, competing for jobs in a sunny -- and wet -- state.

BY PHIL DAVIS
Associated Press

TAMPA - Sara Moore knew the odds of getting a teaching job near the ocean were good when she flew in from Ohio to interview at the Great Florida Teach-In, part of a statewide effort to recruit more than 32,000 new teachers this summer.

The 24-year-old Columbus, Ohio, resident got an offer from Broward County Public Schools on her third interview at the event in Tampa Wednesday. The district's recruiting pitch -- ''Teach Near the Beach'' -- helped seal the deal.

''It's good to know I've already got something,'' said Moore, who planned to continue interviewing. ``I've been trying to move to Florida for a year now.''

She was among an estimated 3,000 potential teachers expected to attend the two-day recruiting fair Wednesday and today at the Tampa Convention Center. On Wednesday, hundreds of applicants, young and old, browsed recruiting pitches and waited in chairs outside ballrooms to be called for 15-minute interviews.

This summer, Florida school recruiters must convince more than 30,000 teachers to come work in a state that ranks among the lowest in teacher salaries, has a rising cost of living and a reputation for getting hammered by hurricanes.

''That's been our biggest question,'' said Pam Stewart, Florida's deputy chancellor for educator quality. ``They think we're all down here with no roofs on our homes.''

The state is facing a teacher shortage due to record growth, a constitutional requirement to reduce class sizes and an exodus of teachers.

Despite the challenges, Stewart is optimistic.

''Our efforts have been so strong this year, we actually hope to meet the 30,000 goal,'' Stewart said. Last year, she said, the state brought in about 20,000 new teachers, 2,000 short of the demand. 'To get 20,000 teachers to come to Florida -- that's more than some states' entire teaching workforce.''

The Florida Education Association cites those figures showing Florida teachers are paid about $6,000 below the national average when pushing for raises. Stewart said the constant influx of new teachers drops the average teacher salary to about $42,000 a year.

The job Moore was offered pays about $35,000 a year, a salary recruiters acknowledge won't go far in Broward County.

''It's a challenge and I tell my candidates that,'' Broward County Schools recruiter Freda Gellerstein said. ``I tell them to work it out beforehand and do a budget.''

Keeping teachers is another challenge. Stewart said about 40 percent of new teachers quit in the first five years -- a statistic that moved teacher retention to one of the state's top priorities.

State and local officials have used Internet ads, signing bonuses and job fairs to lure candidates. Gellerstein said she offered about 500 contracts at a Broward job fair last month. The county needs 1,700 teachers.

She wouldn't say how many applicants follow through on the offers.

''We're all vying for the same candidates,'' she said. ``It's very competitive.''

Ohio's loss is Florida's gain, Gellerstein said.

''Sara will be a very good teacher,'' Gellerstein said. ``Exceptional, hopefully.''