Baby Boomers Retiring: Teachers Wanted

By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A spike in the number of baby boomer teachers retiring has school districts across the country preparing for a teacher shortage.

A spokesperson for The National Commission on Teaching and America's Future said they expect the number of retiring teachers to peak soon.

Here in Oklahoma, nearly half of the teachers are older than 50. That means Oklahoma will more than likely soon see a sharp increase in the number of retiring teachers.

"Teachers, like everyone else, want to enjoy their golden years, and they're looking forward to their retirement," said James Wilbanks, executive director of Teachers' Retirement System.

In June, the number of retiring teachers in Oklahoma rose from an average of about 800 in years past to 1,077, according to Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement System reports.

Wilbanks said legislation that impacted teacher's benefits also added to the surge.

"The incentive plan that was passed in 2006, encouraged people to work additional years, and by doing so they could increase their benefits," he said.

The Retirement System predicts the increase in retirees to continue over the next decade, and with a decreasing number of incoming applicants, a teacher shortage seems all too possible. But Tierney Cook with Oklahoma City Public Schools said the district has a plan.

"Recruitment, recruitment, recruitment. We're visiting colleges way more than we have in the past; teacher's fairs, visiting door to door, getting those folks, letting them know about the urban school setting. Also spreading the word out and not just in Oklahoma but also in surrounding states," Tierney Cook said.

Cook said competitive pay should also attract educators.

But the average pay for an Oklahoma home teacher is still far less than the national average. In the 2006-2007 academic year, Oklahoma teachers made an average of $38,772 compared to $41,613 in states contiguous to Oklahoma. The national average was about $49,613, according to state Education Department data,

"Employees today are looking at the package of what it is that an employer is offering. It's no longer just what the paycheck is. Employees are looking at benefits, including retirement benefits," Wilbanks said.

The Oklahoma City school district currently has 207 job openings, which Tierney said is typical in the summer months.

According to the State Regents for Higher Education, admissions to teacher education programs at state universities have fallen about 24 percent over the last 10 years.