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A new office is set to address the state and national teacher shortage.
GRAND FORKS, ND – Several months after announcing the launch of the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Retention to address teacher shortages across the state and across the country, UND’s College of Education and Human Development has now turned that big idea into reality.
Key staff for the new Office of Teacher Recruitment and Retention include a new director, Ashley Smalley, a former West Fargo middle school teacher and nearing a doctorate in educational leadership from UND, as well as a new outreach specialist, Monte Gawler, a former Grand Forks teacher and UND adjunct professor.
“Our teachers are being asked to play a greater role than ever before, as they face unprecedented challenges from school districts, communities, and state and federal governments,” Smalley said. They are unsupported, unappreciated and overwhelmed mentally and physically. Addressing the problem of retaining teachers in the profession and motivating future teachers requires systemic changes and reforms.
“Teachers are the heart of our schools, so we need to make positive changes for them and our children.”
According to the U.S. Department of Education, North Dakota’s teacher shortage spans many areas, including early childhood and elementary education, math, social studies, and health and fitness. Declining enrollment in teacher education programs and the Covid-19 pandemic have both contributed to the current crisis.
Smalley and OTRR would like to see that trend reversed. In OTRR’s mission statement, the office “strives to increase the diversity and overall number of students enrolled in teacher preparation programs.” [put] Time and energy to prepare many new teachers for our community… [and] We work to improve early career support, promote development opportunities, collaborate with all education stakeholders and retain highly qualified teachers in our schools.
Based on the stated goals, OTRR seeks to:
• Reduce or reverse the downward trend in enrollment in teacher education programs
• Provide support to current teachers and proactively address the causes of teacher stress and dissatisfaction
• Establish more facilities for children across the state in rural summer camps in reading and STEM
• Promote training opportunities to recruit new students interested in education
OTRR plans to share upcoming initiatives and new developments through the office’s website. Office inquiries may be directed to Ashley Smalley at 701.777.6095.
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