Background for the Teacher Shortage in the
Clark County School District

The effect of the shortage of teachers in the Clark County School District of Las Vegas, Nevada is profound; they don’t have enough teachers to teach the children enrolled, causing classroom overcrowding and staffing issues.  This means that local schools, teachers, and students are stretched too thin in current districts and the children aren’t getting the attention and education they need.

The cost of doing nothing on this issue will just be more of the same; overcrowded, understaffed classrooms where the student’s educations suffers.  Possible and likely actions that can and will be taken to address these issues is that the district will hire more teachers and lower their requirements to become a fully licensed teacher, or strengthen their secondary certification program to get more people eligible to teach in their classrooms. 

Everyone, especially parents and caregivers, care about this issue and would like to see a positive outcome to the current educational crisis.  One organization that I found that was looking to help people get hired on as teachers in Clark County, NV is TeachersofTomorrow.org.  As their websites states, “With Over 300 Positions Available, Your Dream Job Is Waiting for You at CCSD!” (Teach, n.d.)  This website appears to be a legitimate resource for getting hired but offers assistance in areas that should be free anyway if you know where to look, and at a hefty price.

My Advocacy Innovation is... This Website

ASSESSED NEED

With over 358 schools, Clark County School District (CCSD) is the fifth-largest school district in the country and Nevada’s largest employer. (Teach, n.d.)  CCSD teacher vacancies reached a four-year high of 750, and the need for teachers in Las Vegas, Nevada may be the worst it has ever been. This shortage is creating an enormous educational crisis that cannot be ignored.  Students returning to Las Vegas-area schools for the 2021-2022 school year are more likely to be taught by a long-term substitute than in years past. (White, 2021)

Advocacy is described as taking on many forms; self-advocacy or advocating for oneself, advocating for a person or group, or advocating for systematic change.  My advocacy issue more or less includes all three.  The issue I plan to advocate for this semester is the need to hire quality teachers in CCSD myself being one of them after I graduate.  It is the right and most effective cause for me to engage in because it is a void I’m looking to fill after finishing my degree and my children are going to school full-time.  One organization that I found that was advocating for teaching at CCSD is TeachersofTomorrow.org.  As their websites states, “With over 300 Positions Available, Your Dream Job Is Waiting for You at CCSD!” (Teach, n.d.) 

As seen in the article “Shortage of trade school instructors means fewer industry workers,” by Tricia Kean, Clark County is also experiencing a severe shortage in technical/vocation teachers, expressing that their schools do not have enough instructors to train their students.  "The numbers are alarming. Obviously, trying to track the right people who are willing to help others to learn to get into the trades. That's nerve-racking," says Russ Gill, the Vice President of Enrollment at a local trade school.  This deficiency shows that the school district is truly desperate for educators of all types. (Keane, 2021)

“Some Clark County School District teachers say some challenges they already felt as educators in the district were exacerbated during the pandemic, even leading some to leave,” said Tiffany Lane in her article “CCSD teachers deal with burnout heading into the new school year,” for KSNV News Channel 3 in Las Vegas, NV.  To me this shows that as hard as it is to acquire teachers here, it is almost as hard to keep them.  Another difficulty the district faces in teacher retention is the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all teachers and school staff that was unanimously approved by the Board of Education; CCSD teachers and parents are growing more and more concerned with a lack of transparency about the mandate. 

ANOTHER POSSIBLE CAUSE

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the organization requiring that companies of 100 employees are required to get their staff vaccinated on the federal level.  In issuing this mandate in the “Path out of the Pandemic Act”, Joe Biden said, "We're going to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by increasing the share of the workforce that is vaccinated in businesses all across America." (Nagale, 2021)  Teachers and staff are worried about these new laws and guidelines because of the lack of transparency outlining who is exempt from the requirements and what the penalties are for choosing not to get vaccinated.  The advertising on the OSHA website about the benefits and the availability of the vaccines locally for people across the country, this organization is advocating for getting the shots and making it easier for workers to do so.

IDENTIFY THE CHALLENGE

The current climate in the educational world in CCSD schools there are many factors working against progress being made in the district. Between the impact that the COVID-19 virus is having on the system and the lack of teachers, this is clearly a cause that needs every advocate it can get, starting with me. This project will put togethet a wealth of information to share with people interested in the quickest and easiest way of becoming a full-time, licensed teacher with the Clark County School District.

Simple Solution

After a few hours of phone tag a helpful person sent me in the direction of this specific page on the Clark County School District's website.

The Clark County School District has partnered with Nevada State College for its Accelerated Licensure Teacher Academy (ALTA). ALTA gives aspiring teachers an accessible, innovative, and supportive pathway to a successful career in Clark County schools. (Program, n.d.)

The program opens the doors to a teaching career in Clark County to anyone with the dedication and desire to lead a challenging, student-centered classroom—from college grads to career changers with a wealth of knowledge to share with our students. (Program, n.d.)

Final Thoughts

I attempted to find out if an educational studies degree from Arizona State University would allow me to side-step any of these requirements and I am still waiting to hear back, although i do have a call in. So my degree in Education that was 100% paid for by Uber may come in handy; if not, what's 6 more college credits after taking the necessary tests.