Superintendent Hayes Encourages Students and Folks Looking for a Career Change to Look at Teaching Amid Teaching Shortage

Massac County School Superintendent Jason Hayes spoke with WMOK during a recent Coffee Break about the teacher shortage in the state of Illinois and across the country.

Superintendent Hayes said that as with any careers, there are negatives to teaching; however there are many positives – including – teaching is definitely a career that someone could pursue without having to fear that it would be difficult to find a job.

Hayes said that while the pay for a teacher is not as high as some professions that the quality of life that it allows an individual is a nice trade-out. He went on to discuss the joy of watching students learn and knowing that you can have an influence on their life.

Several teachers were hired last summer who were graduates of Massac High. He said it’s a great honor – not only for the students to want to be educators – but to want to come back to Massac County to teach.

Available Job Postings in Massac Unit #1

Hear our discussion with Mr. Hayes at the bottom of this post:

Chalkbeat said in February “Of the Illinois school leaders from 690 school districts surveyed, 73% say they have a teacher shortage problem, 93% say the shortage is as bad or worse than last school year, 95% report receiving the same or fewer applicants for vacant positions, and 92% say they have a substitute teacher program.“

Southern Illinois University is onboard to assist in closing the gap in the Illinois teacher shortage. SIU is one of just five universities statewide chosen for $250,000 Teacher Residency Grant from the Illinois State Board of Education, said Christie McIntyre, director of SIU’s Teacher Education Programs.

The program which allows the aspiring educators to get started on their careers several months earlier than the norm provides financial, mentorship and experiential benefits to teacher candidates while also helping participating school districts and children.

Read more on the SIU program

When Superintendent Hayes joined us for Coffee Break in March we continued our conversation. Hayes said that the district is attending a teacher career fair at Murray State University on Friday the 10th.

In the audio clip below Hayes discusses the declining number of teachers to choose from for open positions – specifically at the High School level.