Governor Dennis Daugaard recognized the achievements of South Dakota teachers Thursday. Teachers from across the state not only came to receive awards but also to engage with lawmakers.
Laurie Wagner is a high school math teacher in Webster South Dakota and is a Teacher of the Year regional award winner. Wagner is taking this opportunity to show lawmakers what teachers are doing in the classroom. One issue she hopes lawmakers understand is the need to address South Dakota’s impending teacher shortage.
WAGNER (:10) I’ve been teaching for 26 years this is the first time that I have had a student teacher and I’m really in an area where there’s quite a few colleges. They just aren’t out there, teachers aren’t going into the field.
Wagner says there are several factors contributing to the teacher shortage. One of them is teacher pay. Wagner, who herself works three jobs, says a raise in teacher pay is not only needed to attract new teachers but to keep seasoned teachers in the profession.
Pam Wells is also a teacher and regional award recipient. Wells teaches high school physical science and chemistry in Mobridge. She says another important factor in addressing the teacher shortage is mentorships. Wells says new teachers need support systems to help them in and out of the classroom. She says lawmakers can help by increasing funding for professional mentor programs.
WELLS (:10) Every school building should have at least one mentor. A go to person, a person that understands. That’s going to break down that barrier and establish that relationship with those new teachers.
Both Wells and Wagner agree that the teacher shortage problem needs to be addressed before it gets out of control.