California seeks more teachers to combat widespread shortage

HELD A SUMMIT TO TRY TO RECRUIT MORE TEACHERS. HERE IS NBC BAY AREA'S DAMON TRUJILLO. >> Reporter: WE ARE AT CAPTAIN JASON DOLL ELEMENTARY AND AT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL THERE IS ALREADY A SUBSTITUTE ON CAMPUS TODAY. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL HAS BEEN A THRILL IN MISS ARIELLA'S FIRST GRADE CLASS. IT'S THE UPPER GRADES AT FRANKLIN McKINLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT ARE CRAMPED. >> OUR GOAL WAS TO TRY TO KEEP OUR FOURTH AND SIXTH GRADE CLASS AT NO MORE THAN 28, BUT THAT PROVED TO BE IMPOSSIBLE. >> A TEACHER SHORTAGE BUMPED THAT NUMBER TO 32 STUDENTS PER CLASS. TODAY THE SUPERINTENDENT VISITED SEVERAL OF HIS SCHOOLS. HE SPENT THE ENTIRE SUMMER TRYING TO RECRUIT NEW TEACHERS AND STILL FAILED TO TEACHER SHORT. SO SUBSTITUTES ARE FILLING IN. ONE OF THEM IN CAPTAIN JASON M DAHL SPECIAL ED CLASS. >> WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR TEACHERS TO FILL POSITIONS. >> Reporter: SHE SPENT THE WEEKEND SETTING UP THE CLASSROOM FOR HER SUBSTITUTE TEACHER. PARENTS SAY THEY WANT NOTHING LESS THAN PERMANENT, MOLLIFIED TEACHERS AT THE HEAD OF CLASS. >> WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE DAY WILL BRING. >> Reporter: THE TEACHER SHORTAGE IS THE REASON THE STATE HOSTED A SUMMIT TODAY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. TONY THURMAN SAYS THE STATE HAS TO BE MORE INVOLVED WITH RECRUITMENT AND HE SAYS IT NEEDS TO INCREASE COMPENSATION, PRIORITIZE TRAINING AND IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS AND EXPLORE ALL OTHER STRATEGIES. >> BUILDING A PIPELINE. WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE AND STUDENTS FROM COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE ASPIRE TO BECOME A TEACHER, IF WE GIVE THEM RESOURCES WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS. >> Reporter: THE FRANKLIN McKINLEY SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THURMAN MIGHT WANT TO VISIT HIS DISTRICT WHERE TEACHERS SALARIES DO NOT COME CLOSE TO KEEPING UP WITH THE SILICON VALLEY COST-OF-LIVING. >> SOME HAVE TO COMMUTE ONE OR TWO HOURS TO COME TO WORK HERE AND BE ABLE TO ALSO AFFORD A HOME. >> Reporter: THURMAN IS ALSO FORMING A STATEWIDE TEACHER RECRUITMENT COALITION

Channel: NBC Bay Area

Views: 2,789

Keywords: California, teachers, Damian Trujillo

Id: jsqXGMtsHqU

Length: 2min 21sec (141 seconds)

Published: Tue Aug 15 2023