As Kansas school districts fight to fill more than 1,800 open teaching positions, rural communities like Winfield are looking to college students preparing to enter the classroom to help fill the gap.
Data from the Kansas State Department of Education shows that the teacher shortage in Kansas has grown in recent years. The school districts reported approximately 1,810 open teaching positions in the fall of 2023. Among these were 462 positions in elementary education and 404 in special education. This report also identified shortages in math, English, and science.
College students studying education say that their motivations lie in personal experience.
“I chose to pursue a degree in education because growing up, I had many great teachers who inspired me to keep learning, and I want to be that person for someone else,” said Abani Perdomo, an education major at Southwestern College.
Perdomo said that she was not currently aware of the statewide teacher shortage.
“No, I was not aware of the shortage of teachers here in Kansas,” she said. “But even if I were, I probably would go home to Texas and teach there.”
These comments reveal one challenge that Kansas districts face. It can be difficult to retain graduates from in-state teacher education programs, especially in rural areas. So, districts such as Winfield USD 465 must compete with not only larger districts, but also with other states for qualified educators.
When asked about her concerns entering the profession, Perdomo said that classroom
communication is her biggest worry. “Not being able to give the best explanations while giving lectures, and then students having a hard time picking up the information I’m trying to give them,” she said.
Education officials have come to the conclusion that there are many factors contributing to the shortage, such as workload demands, compensation concerns, and the ever-changing behavioral and academic needs among students following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the reported shortages, Perdomo said that she is seeing strong interest in the field among her peers at Southwestern College. “I believe there is,” she said when asked whether enough college students are entering education to meet demand. “I’ve never been around so many other people who have an interest in becoming a teacher. But I do hope there is enough to help meet the demand for teachers here in Kansas.”