New School Year About to Begin

The final countdown has begun before the first bell rings to mark the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. 

As is customary, the weeks and months between one school years close and the next ones start, Collier County Public Schools (CCPS) is faced with ensuring all of its classroom positions are filled. It’s a task that has been made challenging by circumstances experienced statewide and locally where pay and benefits, the cost of living and the cost and availability of housing are concerned. 

The week before CCPS students’ August 10 report date, the district had 40 elementary and 60 secondary vacancies at its 29 elementary, 10 middle and eight high schools. That includes Everglades City School, which is PreK through grade12, and its 13 Alternative School Programs.

“Keep in mind that these numbers will continue to go down as we are currently recruiting and onboarding additional teaching staff,” said CCPS Communications and Community Engagement Specialist, Jennifer Kupiec, just a few days before teachers officially reported for their first day of the new school year on August 3.

On Marco, the instructional staffs of Tommie Barfield Elementary and Marco Island Academy were complete the weekend before teachers reported. At Marco Island Charter Middle School, the situation was a bit different. MICMS Principal Michele Wheeler was still working to fill openings for an eighth-grade science teacher and a seventh-grade civics teacher. 

“We’ve had some interviews, but we haven’t actually filled the positions yet,” she said. “We’re the only ones having issues filling positions. So hopefully we’ll be able to fill those positions before next week. If we don’t fill the positions, what we plan to do is have a long-term substitute in that position until we fill it.”

Wheeler is in her third year at MICMS, her second as principal. She said turnover hasn’t traditionally been an issue and that the majority of teachers have been there for quite a while.

“One (teacher) that left this year had an opportunity to teach where his daughter is going to school and another teacher is relocating to another state,” she added. “So, life happens. Things like that happen.”

At MIA, principal Melissa Scott is looking forward to what will be a momentous year for the charter high school - the debut of its brand-new building and athletic facilities. The new digs will see the school increase its staff from 15 fulltime instructors to 19. There will be additional science, world languages and fine arts teachers, as well as in the physical education department. The school will also have a facilities manager and a receptionist for the first time.

“It’ll be our largest staff ever,” remarked Scott. “It’s really exciting.” 

The labor pool of educators has been affected by the national decline in the number of students graduating with bachelor’s degrees in education, according to Valerie Wenrich, CCPS’ Executive Director of Human Resources. She said the district utilizes a number of tools in its recruitment efforts, including a competitive salary structure, plentiful opportunities for supplemental income, paid health insurance and pathways to career growth.

“We hold ongoing recruitment activities and external recruitment events, specifically from the guest (substitute) teacher level,” added Wenrich. “Bringing staff on as guest teachers allows for an introduction to the classroom and what the profession entails for both the guest teacher and the District. Alumni connections allow our current staff to reach out to their alma maters and share CCPS opportunities.”

CCPS has also created two programs to aid recruitment efforts. Grow 2 Teach promotes the profession to current non-instructional staff and supports them through the education process and learning to become a teacher. Teach 4 Collier targets the county’s college educated residents who may be interested in changing careers or in returning to the workforce after retirement. 

The cost and availability of housing in Southwest Florida has long been cited as a problem for attracting and retaining educators, first responders and members of other professions vital to the community. Wheeler said the issue has been one that has entered her thoughts where staffing is concerned. 

“We had a lot of out-of-state applicants for our science position and a concern of mine was, ‘Are they going to be able to find housing?’” she said.