| Each spring, the Florida Department of Education compiles a list of critical teacher shortage areas it anticipates for the coming fall. The subject areas rarely change — special education, math and science regularly top the chart. One thing has become more notable over time, though: The number of projected vacancies continues to rise. For 2022-23, the figure surpassed 9,000. Teachers are leaving the classroom in waves, and certified replacements aren't as numerous as in the past. Teacher groups are calling the situation a crisis, one they hope to reverse. It might not be so easy, if one departing teacher's story offers any insights.
— Jeffrey S. Solochek, jsolochek@tampabay.com |
| [Pinellas County School District] |
| Unrealistic expectations lead frustrated Pinellas civics teacher to quit the profession |
| Growing up in New Jersey, Patrick Mugan recalls having good teachers, but not ones that he could connect with. So when he became an educator himself, he made it his priority to be someone students felt comfortable asking questions to, offering relatable, honest information to them. He began working in Pinellas County in 2015 as a special education aide, while waiting for a teaching position in social studies. He liked it so much he got an added certification in special education. Eventually Mugan landed a job teaching history and civics at Pinellas Park Middle, where his students regularly have outperformed the district on annual end-of-course exams.
Mugan figured he had found his path. His parents and siblings followed him to Florida, and he expected to stay in the area where he has become involved in community organizations as much as in school and district activities. April 6 marked his last day with the district. He's preparing to leave the state, and expects never to return to the classroom, though working to help youths remains in his plans. Making the decision to resign, particularly mid-semester, did not come easily, Mugan said. But his frustrations had grown too many for him to remain. "I feel like I've been giving a lot for the short time I've been here. I can't honestly do it anymore and continue to have a positive image of myself," he explained. He cited "unrealistic expectations" that districts and the state have placed upon educators in recent years as a primary factor in his choice. Teachers have been told to add more lessons, more paperwork and more responsibilities to their load, Mugan said, while receiving in return declining respect for their efforts.
"They know people who are teaching care about kids ... and care about their community, and they'll take it," Mugan said. "At some point, I just felt like I personally was a collaborator, in the historical sense of the word, feeding into it. I couldn't do that any more."
Recent actions at the state level compounded the situation for Mugan. He particularly bristled at the idea of officials limiting what teachers can include in their lessons, having accused them of indoctrinating children with inappropriate information. "I was a good teacher. My kids did very well on all their exams," he said. "It's because I let them ask questions and I answered their questions. It's because I didn't indoctrinate them." Mugan often would raise concerns with the Pinellas School Board. But he felt unheard, and also practically alone in that effort. Few colleagues would speak out, fearful of losing their jobs, though some would call him later to offer thanks for airing views they shared. "I'm hopeful that more people will step up and make their voices heard," Mugan said. "It can't just be the same few people all the time." Nancy Velardi, president of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association, said she worried that more people will follow Mugan's example. She noted that 72 union members left the district in March — the number is higher if non-members are included — and she expects a "rather large exodus" after classes end in May. "When they have chosen to dedicate their lives to this profession and then are told their experience is not valued, they burn out and leave," Velardi recently told the School Board. "We must change our way of work here or suffer the consequences of losing our teachers." If replacements can't be found, she added, growing numbers of students will be taking classes with substitutes, if enough of them apply. There's also been a substitute shortage across the region and state. Board chairperson Eileen Long, a retired teacher, said she wants to support teachers. At the same time, she noted that district administrators have reported that teacher resignation numbers are about the same this year as in the past. "I want to be empathetic," Long said. "I just think in the world that we live in and responsibilities being put on the schools by the federal and state government ... teachers are being asked, like everyone, to do much more than they were supposed to." Education is taking a hit across the nation, she suggested. "I don't think Florida is any worse." |
| TAMPA BAY EDUCATION ROUNDUP |
| Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law new limits on the teaching about race in schools. He said the goal is to focus on education, not indoctrination. A federal lawsuit challenging the measure soon followed, the News Service of Florida reports.
The University of Tampa struggled to find housing for all freshmen this past fall. The school announced it will be building more dorms.
A dozen Pinellas County schools face new bell schedules in the fall. It's all because of bus driver shortages.
Choosing math textbooks is usually a routine affair. Florida's process drew attention nationally this year after the Department of Education issued a statement denouncing several of the titles. Within a week, it started adding some of the criticized books to the approved list.
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