Letter to the editor: New teachers will steer clear of certain school districts

Multiple articles have appeared in the Trib regarding local school board actions that make teaching more stressful. It’s time for a reality check.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education reports a steep drop in the number of teachers being certified. In 2010-11, the state certified 15,031 new teachers. By 2019-20, that number was 5,128. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are 567,000 fewer educators in U.S. public schools now than there were pre-pandemic. In short, it will be harder to staff classrooms.

I am a retired educator who hears from former students. After Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin initiated his “report a teacher” phone line and one Virginia school district openly considered a public book burning, a young teacher working in that state contacted me. His message was this: Tell new graduates not to apply in my district. I can imagine teachers in some Westmoreland County districts issuing the same warning.

Teacher expertise matters for student achievement. Whether new or experienced, teachers will have more choice than ever over where they teach. Some Westmoreland County districts may soon find that the best educators are unwilling to work for them.

Helen C. Sitler

Ligonier