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Economy boosts teacher pool
Since the economy "tanked," the Douglas County School District no longer competes with its neighboring districts for the best employees, said Jack Kronser, director of recruitment for the school district.
By By: Susan Dage-Ruby
Since the economy "tanked," the Douglas County School District no longer competes with its neighboring districts for the best employees, said Jack Kronser, director of recruitment for the school district.
"Prior to 2001, we would have had three to four applications for every hire," Kronser said. "Now we have seven applications for every hire."
The last two or three years have seen a large increase in the number of applications the district handles, not only for teachers but at all levels, Kronser said.
"When the economy sours, people tend to go back to school," Kronser said. "Some people seeking a second career wanted something a little more stable. Education provides that."
One of the payoffs of a second career in education is the ability to use experience as a springboard for a teaching license, Kronser said.
"One of the reasons I decided to go for alternative licensing was because my husband, who is an engineer, was laid off last year," said Gail Headley, teacher of consumer and family studies at Chaparral High School in Parker.
Headley, who has a degree in consumer services and businesses, worked for nine years in school district support staff positions.
"The last was in the library," she said. "I wanted to become a librarian."
Teaching experience is a requirement for a master's degree in library science, Headley said.
She might pursue the library science degree later, she said.
"But I like working with the kids," Headley said. "A lot of kids need me, and this gives my life meaning."
The alternative licensing program has been in place for several years now and has been considered successful by the district.
"There has been an increased interest in alternative licensing since the dip in the economy," Kronser said. "In the last two school years, we've had between 17 and 18 teachers with alternative licenses, when before it was about 12."
ThunderRidge High School teacher Mike Erickson said he looked at the alternative licensing program before he made his leap.
"It's a risky step," Erickson said. "But I have no regrets."
Erickson decided to leave the world of business because he didn't want to go through life only knowing how to build businesses, he said.
"I also have a passion for helping people," Erickson said.
In the world of business, however, there's not always room for that, he said.
His experience in business brings the real world and contextual learning to his classes, Erickson said.
"Contextual learning makes it so much more relevant," Erickson said. "Kids learn not just the facts, but the 'whys' and 'hows.'"
While his students are learning about business, economics and marketing, Erickson is having the time of his life.
"I feel like I'm making more of a difference," Erickson said. "At the end of the day, I feel better than at the beginning. I can't remember feeling that way in business."
Besides allowing the district to hire teachers with real-world experience, the economy has brought more experienced teachers, Kronser said.
"Eight or nine years ago, we were hiring one in four teachers with experience," Kronser said. "Now three out of four hires are experienced teachers."
That has matured the teaching pool in the district, Kronser said.
The district is one of the top employers in the county, said Bill Hodges, assistant superintendent for human resources. It has 5,500 employees, of which more than half are teachers. The remainder, mostly support staff and administration personnel, takes up less than 10 percent of the employment numbers, Hodges said.
As such, it is seen as a microcosm of the economy, Kronser said.
"There is about a six-month delay between what's going on in the economy and its impact on the district," Kronser said.
"Prior to 2001, we would have had three to four applications for every hire," Kronser said. "Now we have seven applications for every hire."
The last two or three years have seen a large increase in the number of applications the district handles, not only for teachers but at all levels, Kronser said.
"When the economy sours, people tend to go back to school," Kronser said. "Some people seeking a second career wanted something a little more stable. Education provides that."
One of the payoffs of a second career in education is the ability to use experience as a springboard for a teaching license, Kronser said.
"One of the reasons I decided to go for alternative licensing was because my husband, who is an engineer, was laid off last year," said Gail Headley, teacher of consumer and family studies at Chaparral High School in Parker.
Headley, who has a degree in consumer services and businesses, worked for nine years in school district support staff positions.
"The last was in the library," she said. "I wanted to become a librarian."
Teaching experience is a requirement for a master's degree in library science, Headley said.
She might pursue the library science degree later, she said.
"But I like working with the kids," Headley said. "A lot of kids need me, and this gives my life meaning."
The alternative licensing program has been in place for several years now and has been considered successful by the district.
"There has been an increased interest in alternative licensing since the dip in the economy," Kronser said. "In the last two school years, we've had between 17 and 18 teachers with alternative licenses, when before it was about 12."
ThunderRidge High School teacher Mike Erickson said he looked at the alternative licensing program before he made his leap.
"It's a risky step," Erickson said. "But I have no regrets."
Erickson decided to leave the world of business because he didn't want to go through life only knowing how to build businesses, he said.
"I also have a passion for helping people," Erickson said.
In the world of business, however, there's not always room for that, he said.
His experience in business brings the real world and contextual learning to his classes, Erickson said.
"Contextual learning makes it so much more relevant," Erickson said. "Kids learn not just the facts, but the 'whys' and 'hows.'"
While his students are learning about business, economics and marketing, Erickson is having the time of his life.
"I feel like I'm making more of a difference," Erickson said. "At the end of the day, I feel better than at the beginning. I can't remember feeling that way in business."
Besides allowing the district to hire teachers with real-world experience, the economy has brought more experienced teachers, Kronser said.
"Eight or nine years ago, we were hiring one in four teachers with experience," Kronser said. "Now three out of four hires are experienced teachers."
That has matured the teaching pool in the district, Kronser said.
The district is one of the top employers in the county, said Bill Hodges, assistant superintendent for human resources. It has 5,500 employees, of which more than half are teachers. The remainder, mostly support staff and administration personnel, takes up less than 10 percent of the employment numbers, Hodges said.
As such, it is seen as a microcosm of the economy, Kronser said.
"There is about a six-month delay between what's going on in the economy and its impact on the district," Kronser said.
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