Indiana Department of Education rolls out plan to attract, retain teachers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indiana Department of Education has announced a plan to draw more teachers to Indiana, in response to the state’s teacher shortage. The number of first-time teachers has dropped by at least 30 percent since 2009.

The Department of Education has established the Indiana Center on Teacher Quality at Indiana University. The center will focus on hiring special education teachers.  Many schools have told 24-Hour News 8 they’ve struggled to find special education and STEM teachers over the past few years.

The department has also created a full-time position within the department to support teachers and develop resources for them.  That person will work to give teachers opportunities to grow in their career, and in turn keep them in Indiana.

The ideas developed from a panel of experts that met last summer to address the shortage. There were several bills that included more ideas to solve the shortage, but they did not make it through the legislative session.

In a statement, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz, blamed lawmakers and the governors for not doing their part.

“Every student deserves to have a great teacher in their classroom no matter where they live or go to school,” said Ritz. “While the state legislature and Governor Pence failed to move forward meaningful legislation to address Indiana’s teacher shortage, I am expanding our efforts at the Department of Education to ensure that all Hoosier students receive a high-quality education – and that begins with high-quality teachers. Sadly, some of the recommendations could not be implemented because of inaction from Governor Pence and the General Assembly. I will bring those items back for consideration by the Legislature in 2017.”