Indiana Teachers Union Calls Parliamentarians to Address Shortages

Indianapolis-Indiana’s largest teachers’ union is calling on state legislators to address educator burnout and an ongoing teacher shortage during the next session beginning in January.

Keith Gambill, president of the Indiana Teachers Association, said at a press conference Monday that the state is “slowly evolving” in teacher salaries but needs additional action to attract and retain teachers. .. Teachers’ workload and burnout were already a problem before the coronavirus pandemic began, according to Gambir, but the outbreak of the virus exacerbates the state’s teacher shortage.

“Maintaining current teachers is more important than ever,” said Gambir. “We are now in the third consecutive grade under the influence of the coronavirus pandemic. Our educators, who are already overburdened, have unsustainable levels of stress and stress-related illnesses. Facing

The shortage of teachers is exacerbated by the lack of alternatives, which means that more educators need to work longer hours without time for vacations and classroom planning, Gambir continued. Some ISTA teachers include working for more than 12 hours in addition to the second or third job, Gambir said.

Gambir added that educators cite lack of professional respect as a factor in the state’s shortage of teachers. In response, the union called on Congress to restore health and safety conditions, class size, and teachers’ ability to negotiate contracts, including preparation periods for teachers to prepare lessons and score jobs. He said he was.

“Our children experienced significant academic impacts during the pandemic, and everyone seems to agree that we need to bring them back to grade level,” Gambir said. Said. “But this important task is hampered by overworked staff and growing classes. We have to do better for our children and educators.”

ISTA also debuted a state-wide map on Wednesday, tracking school districts that raised teachers’ starting salaries above the union’s goal of $ 40,000.

Responding to rising teacher starting salaries in 2018 when ISTA launches a Red For Ed movement to mobilize thousands of teachers across Indiana to demand better wages from Republican-controlled state governments The number of districts surged from 79 districts to 212 districts. New online tracker.

“Obviously, we’re making good progress … and we’re steadily working to ensure that this progress doesn’t slow down in the next few years,” Gambir said.

Gambill said the teachers’ union will announce full legislative priorities next month before lawmakers return to the Indiana State Capitol to start the 2022 legislative session, which begins in January.

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Casey Smith is a corps member of the Associated Press / American Capitol News Initiative Report Report. Report for America is a non-profit national service program that places journalists in the local newsroom to report on unreported issues.

Indiana Teachers Union Calls Parliamentarians to Address Shortages

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