CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Several weeks into the 2022–23 academic year, local schools are still short on special education teachers.
It’s no secret that a teacher shortage is plaguing the entire country. Locally, the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System has its hands full getting certified teacher positions filled. The school system is particularly looking to hire close to 30 instructors for open special education positions.
Open positions
There are supposed to be 300 special education teachers at CMCSS. According to the school system, around 9% of those positions are open, along with other certified positions.
Anthony Johnson, spokesperson for CMCSS, said there’s also a significant need for secondary math and science teachers as well as school counselors.
“Although there are seven elementary openings available now or in the coming months, there are typically more applicants for those positions,” he said, noting that has historically been the case with this area.
The school system is also looking to hire several special education assistants, and those are identified as classified employees. Pay for these positions is based on a six-to seven-hour work day and starts at an hourly rate of $14.77, according to the job listing. Currently, about 35 special education assistant positions are listed as open on the CMCSS website.
“There are over 5,900 students in CMCSS who have an IEP (Individualized Education Program) and receive special education services. That is around 15% of CMCSS’ 39,000 students,” Johnson told Clarksville Now.
Teacher pay
The shortage can be attributed to a number of factors, from dissatisfaction over pay and benefits to teachers leaving the area for personal reasons.
“In general, concerns that have been expressed from educators locally about the profession have been consistent with state and national trends, including lack of respect for the profession, pay, escalating student and adult behaviors, and work-life balance. CMCSS leaders will continue collaborating with educators and the community to address these concerns,” Johnson said.
He noted the Top 5 specified reasons teachers left the district were: spouse relocating/moving (25%); retirement (14%); teaching in another district/state (14%); leaving teaching (9%); and better pay and/or dissatisfaction (8%), based on current data that has not yet been finalized for last school year.
According to Indeed, the average annual salary of a special education teacher in Tennessee is $53,906 per year. That number is based on over 100 salaries reported to Indeed as of September 2022. Clarksville special education teachers showed an average annual salary of $48,621, according to data from Indeed.
There are different salary schedules for employees with CMCSS, and they vary based on position, degree level, and experience. Positions are identified as certified, classified, bus driver, nursing, substitute, and extracurricular.
The pay schedule for certified positions, which includes both full-time teachers and special education teachers, starts at $41,961 annually, according to the CMCSS website. As part of CMCSS’ state-approved differentiated pay plan, special education teachers receive an additional $1,000 annually on top of their base salary.
Solutions in works
“There has been an ongoing shortage of special education teachers in America that has increased this year. The goal is to have a certified teacher in every classroom, and CMCSS is actively working to fill the vacant positions with new hires,” Johnson said.
He explained that the Human Resources Department hosts weekly orientations, and CMCSS continually recruits educators through various avenues, including CMCSS-hosted job fairs, local and regional job fairs, university recruitment events across the country, advertising, and social media.
“In Tennessee, teaching permits are not allowed for special education. However, if someone who is not licensed is interested in becoming a special education teacher, we encourage them to reach out so we can connect them with partner agencies who can assist with providing a pathway to becoming a certified special education teacher.”
CMCSS is nationally recognized for its innovative Teacher Residency Pathways, including the first registered teacher apprenticeship program in the country, according to CMCSS. Three of the four current pathways lead to dual certification in general and special education.
“Locally, the innovative Teacher Residency Pathways have helped to address the shortage. Currently, the district has around 115 teachers who have completed a CMCSS Teacher Residency Pathway. There are currently around 160 teacher residents in CMCSS, and around 80 will complete a program at the end of this school year to be certified teachers for the 2023-2024 school year,” Johnson said.
Aside from teacher training, the school system is also looking at new retention strategies. One of those strategies that CMCSS is implementing this school year is a partnership with Upbeat, a teacher retention organization led by former teachers and school leaders.
“Upbeat will administer comprehensive, research-based surveys to certified and classified staff to measure growth in research-based categories that impact teacher retention, including school climate, hiring and onboarding, professional development, and teacher appreciation. Upbeat will also provide CMCSS with exit surveys and analysis into why teachers are leaving the district so that leaders can develop and implement strategies to address specific retention issues.”
To learn more about opportunities with CMCSS, visit their website for a full list of vacancies.