Struggling economy makes teaching jobs more competitive

Ashlie Nanes graduated in May from the University of Utah hoping to teach English. But now instead of spending her days in the classroom, she's spending her afternoons and nights working behind the counter at a local coffee shop.

"If you asked me 10 years ago where I would be right now, I would say I'd be in the classroom and teaching," said Nanes, who lives in Salt Lake City. When she started the teaching program last August, Nanes said she was optimistic about getting a job after graduating, figuring that despite statewide budget cuts, "everyone needs teachers."

Now the 26-year-old graduate says she is not where she expected to be in her life.

"I feel like I am one of those people I have heard about (and) dreaded," Nanes said. She worries she has become the common stereotype of someone "working in a coffee shop until they can actually get a job."

"Everything looks good on paper," Nanes said. "If you name it, I have got it;(the job market) is just really, really competitive."

Nanes isn't alone — in the past six months, the Canyons School District has seen nearly 2,500 full-time teacher applicants vying for only 149 hirable positions, a 16-1 ratio. Budget cuts at school districts across the state mean there is less money to hire new teachers. Some districts have bumped administrators down to teaching positions to save money and some longtime instructors have delayed retirement to weather the recession or hang on to health benefits.

"This is an exceptional year for numbers," said Steve Dimond, director of human resources at Canyons District. Dimond believes the increase in applicants at the Canyons District was due in part to the unique opportunities the new district provides. Dimond said many of the applicants were excited to be part of "something new and bigger." But it's not just the Canyons District that has been flooded with resumes — the five largest school districts (Granite, Jordan, Canyons, Davis and Alpine) in the state all report an increase in teachers applying for limited positions.

Sydnee Dickson, Utah State Office of Education educator and licensing director, said she sees a renewed interest in education as a career.

"People are coming back into the teaching field due to a change of income or an employment situation. This is going to be an interesting year," Dickson said.

Jordan School District has already filled all of its 200 open teaching positions, said June LeMaster, assistant superintendent. The past two years have been "healthy years" for Jordan because all of its positions have been filled by the time school started, LeMaster said.