Ohio races to combat nationwide teacher shortage

Dayton, Ohio (WDTN) — State governments are looking at ways to attract and retain educators amid a national educator shortage.

According to Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association, Ohio is losing about 50% of its teacher cadets compared to a decade ago.

“I think there are several factors. Indeed, the wage gap is serious. When you ask young people what they want to do when they grow up, most of them want a fulfilling career, Everyone wants to pay their bills and put food on the table,” said Di Mauro.

According to Di Mauro, the average Ohio college graduate entering the education field earns 14 percent less than other occupations with the same educational experience.

“We have the challenge of not only attracting people to our profession, but also supporting the educators who are there,” says DiMauro.

“Teaching is getting pretty difficult and there are many factors. We have students with different needs, including some significant mental health issues. We need resources that can provide quality education to our students, regardless of income, race, or location within the state.”

The Ohio House of Representatives has raised the state’s teacher minimum salary from $30,000 to $40,000 in a version of the budget bill.

“This is an important step in the right direction, but even $40,000 would be below the national average starting salary. We need to make sure we have the resources to invest as well.”

Di Mauro added that it’s not just about salary.

“It is also about ensuring that educators get the respect and support they need. Today we are seeing political attacks on education professionals across the country. , we see certain politicians with ideological agendas fueling a wedge of distrust between parents and schools,” he said.

“We know that we have to work with everyone in the community to ensure that our students have everything they need. I think they are more likely to get a job when they see