Newark Hires 600 Teachers Ahead Of School Year To Combat Shortage

NEWARK, NJ — One of the “highest-paying districts in New Jersey” has hired hundreds of teachers ahead of the new school year, administrators say.

Last year, the Newark Public School District was reportedly short 120 instructional positions when it kicked off classes in September. About 60 percent of the district’s 65 schools were down at least one teacher or instructional staffer, such as a counselor or social worker.

But this year, the tide has turned: the district hired more than 600 new teachers before classes begin on Sept. 6. And the hiring blitz isn’t done yet, school officials said.

“We aren’t done filling teacher vacancies, but we’ve welcomed over 1,000 teachers over the last three years, which proves what we already know to be true: Newark Public Schools is the place to be,” Board of Education President Dawn Haynes said.

“I’m excited to see the positive imprint these new teachers will leave on our students,” Haynes added.

According to a joint statement from the board of education, the entire nation – including Newark – has been struggling with a teacher shortage since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. And in the Brick City, administrators have had to get back to the basics and ask a simple question: Why are teachers leaving the classroom in the first place?

One of the answers is no big mystery: money.

A 2017 study claims that despite some people’s beliefs, New Jersey public school teachers are underpaid – not overpaid. According to the study, public school teachers earn 16.8 percent less in weekly wages and 12.5 percent less in weekly total compensation (wages and benefits) than other full-time workers in New Jersey.

Last spring, the board announced that they have reached an agreement with the Newark Teachers Union (NTU) on an addendum to their work contract, which will raise the district’s new teacher starting salary to $62,000 per year.

According to the school board, the re-opener will also increase the salaries of all teachers who currently earn less than the new teacher salary, also to $62,000, and retention of all other teachers is addressed with increases of $1,000 over the next two years.

• See related article: Newark Schools Try To Attract New Teachers With $62K Starting Salary

Administrators said that with the new starting salary combined with other incentives, the Newark Public School District is now “one of the highest-paying in New Jersey.” But money isn’t the only thing that puts teachers in the classrooms, they add.

According to the Newark school board:

“Superintendent [Roger] León has also implemented several district-wide initiatives to help attract and retain teachers. Several partnerships with stellar educator preparation programs, such as Montclair State University and Rutgers University-Newark, help us grow the teacher pipeline for hard-to-staff teaching positions such as Bilingual, ESL, and special education teachers. The creation of additional pathways in our schools to assist non-instructional staff members in getting their teaching certification has been one of the most rewarding and inspiring recruitment initiatives. The NBOE-RUN Pathway to Teaching was established with Rutgers University-Newark to assist current NBOE employees who have a Bachelor's or a post-secondary degree and are interested in becoming teachers. All of these efforts, coupled with the leadership of Governor Murphy, State Senator Ruiz, and Commissioner McMillan-Allen through the implementation of Chapter 224 and Chapter 408 have resulted in these positive intended results.”

Another long-term recruitment strategy? “Growing” their own teachers from the current student population. According to the board of education:

“The Red Hawks Rising Teacher Academy at East Side School and University High School is a dual enrollment program at Montclair State University where students earn college credits in teaching while they are still in high school. The American Federation of Teachers is the professional organization which provides technical assistance, supports, and a stipend to incent the completion rates of students. Upon successful completion of the program, students are presented with a teaching contract at their high school graduation to work in Newark, executable upon graduation from college. This program has been recognized by Secretary of Education Cardona as a national model for collaboration between a local school district, university partner, and a professional organization in creating a teacher preparation program.”

“Our schools can’t run without you and our children won’t learn without you,” León told the district’s newest employees at a teacher orientation last week.

“We are excited that you are here and we want you to know that we are dedicated to making sure you know and feel how important you are every day,” León said. “I know you could have selected any school district in New Jersey and we are so honored that you selected Newark.”

• See related article: Newark Will Hire Retired Teachers, Make New Pathway For Others
• See related article: Newark 'Teacher Academy' Will Transform Students Into Educators
• See related article: Mask Mandate Remains In Newark Schools As Return To Class Nears

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