Teacher shortage in Kentucky, thousands of positions open

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) — The number of teachers in Kentucky continues to drop, while the number of unfilled teacher positions continues to rise, according to the Department of Education.

Superintendents and teachers say they’re concerned that thousands of vacancies could threaten public education in the state.

Back in January, the state had nearly 5,000 positions that needed to be filled.

In Franklin County, the district says it needs to fill eleven teacher positions before the school year begins in less than three weeks.

The state says not only are we seeing an increase in open positions, we’re seeing fewer college students pursuing education degrees.

Allison Slone is a special education teacher in Rowan County teaching at not one, but two schools.

“Who wants to go into a job when you’re constantly in the news, you’re constantly belittled by the people in the community and your own lawmakers and governor,” says Slone.

Supertintendent of Franklin County Schools, Mark Kopp, thinks the shortage is due to cost of education to become a teacher compared to a teacher’s salary.

“Teachers don’t get into this for making money they get into it because they love kids and that love is never going to go away. But what we can do is remove some of those barriers that make it more challenging for someone to choose that as a career,” says Kopp.

He also sees the pension crisis as something keeping potential teachers away.

“So you know going in you’re going to work for this many years and this is what your retirement is going to be and that’s a very satisfying and attractive benefit and when those things are challenged it’s going to make it more challenging to bring people in as educators,” says Kopp.

Both Kopp and Slone tell us how important it is to get and retain great teachers for their student’s success.

The state is looking at ways it can help with the shortage and inspire future generations to join this profession.