School Leaders Struggle to Address Teacher Shortages Across New York

 

By Joe Mahoney

ALBANY — Veteran teacher Don Carlisto said when he broke into the profession two decades ago it was common to encounter as many as 10 student-teachers from State University campuses at Plattsburgh and 

Potsdam walking the halls of the Saranac Lake Middle School..

"Now, I can't tell you the last time I saw a student-teacher in Saranac Lake," said Carlisto, a 7th grade English language arts teacher.

New York is facing a growing teacher shortage, and the problem is particularly acute for the math and science subject areas, teachers certified to instruct in bilingual programs and those trained to teach students with disabilities, according to state officials, administrators and representatives of New York State United Teachers.

"The number of young folks going into teacher education programs in New York has really plummeted," said Jamie Dangler, the United University Professions vice president for academics as well as the chairwoman of the union's teacher education task force.

It's a shortage that is being felt from Niagara Falls to Plattsburgh to New York City, creating daunting challengers for administrators charged with ensuring that the educational needs of students are met.

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Source: The Niagara Gazette (via The Empire Report)