Aspiring Teachers See Job Shortage
Many teacher applicants are disappointed
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Some teachers are rethinking their tracks due to a slowing demand for some positions.
There is a shortage of teacher positions in Texas, but only in certain areas.
College students should be aware of the current school job market limitations, said Dr. Linda Chance, Mansfield ISD Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources.
“We have encouraged the universities to be realistic with students about what the job opportunities are outside of college,” Chance said.
Chances are much better for teachers seeking high school math or science positions, and even more so special education and bilingual jobs. The Texas Education Agency confirms there is indeed a serious shortage of teachers in those areas.
Statistics from 2008 show 94 percent of bilingual secondary school teachers in Texas were teaching “out of field.” That means they were not certified as bilingual teachers but were assigned to the task anyway because of the shortage.
The percentage of “self-contained” special education secondary teachers out of field in 2008 was 70 percent.
Meanwhile, in elementary and general education there are too many applicants and not enough jobs.
At the Mansfield Independent School District's job fair last week, there were 75 elementary school teacher vacancies to fill and more than 500 applicants.
Chance said that even growing suburban districts have seen their growth slow and vacancies decrease.
“There's not as much building,” Chance said. “Also I think most districts are tightening their budgets.”
