Teacher exodus costing Utah taxpayers a bundle

Like many who start college eager to enter their calling full of optimism, convinced they can make a difference in the lives of children, they quickly become disillusioned. They soon find themselves in a black hole, isolated, alone and unprotected by some administrators and board members from unwarranted criticism and harassment from parents, the public and legislators. They are required to teach by the numbers assembly-line style, and comply with myriad federal, state and district regulations.

The most discouraging thing is for the legislators to demean them for not doing their job, not being accountable and then pile on another regulation thinking that will improve education. As a consequence, what the state now has is an educational workplace that no one in their right mind would want to enter if they knew what to expect.

The study also found gender disparities. The state follows national trends with 90 percent of women dominating the elementary teaching ranks, while men hold 60 percent of the administrative jobs. Civil rights laws have given women more career options where they are valued and treated with respect.

It's a key reason why fewer women are entering the "pink-collar" professions historically occupied by women — teaching and nursing. The mass exodus of retirees involves older women who entered the profession when their options for work were limited. They are the heroes who stuck it out and educated today's leaders. They lived with a glass ceiling that still exists in the teaching profession. New teachers spend two years and say forget it, who needs it.

The solution is not more training, mentoring or recruitment, rather having leaders who have the courage to create an environment where their people are supported, respected and valued. Teachers then can come to work with the passion, energy, hope and enthusiasm that students want from them. Legislators and administrators must realize what successful companies learned in order to succeed — the greatest investment is their employees.

State leaders, unfortunately, don't seem to care about the tax dollars lost in educating teachers for five years, hiring them for two years and then losing them. What other employer would let such an investment become expendable?

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Utah native John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations, served on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch and on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards. He also has been deputy assistant secretary of labor. E-mail: ">jdflorez@comcast.net