Guest column: Let's give Oklahoma teachers recognition, pay they deserve. New bill helps.
The Oklahoma Legislature should be commended for passing a bill this session that will give teachers in our state the career support and recognition they deserve.
House Bill 4388, also known as the Teacher Excellence Fund, will create pathways for teachers to grow in their careers while staying in the classroom, and provide avenues for promotion with substantial salary increases. Our best and brightest teachers could exceed $100,000 in annual pay from combined district pay and matching funds from the state. The state match leverages dependable, sustainable funds from the Oklahoma Education Lottery Trust Fund.
The bill also creates opportunities for more experienced teachers to advance by mentoring Oklahoma's next generation of amazing educators, resulting in valuable professional development for all and eliminating the need for teachers to leave the classroom if they want to progress in their career.
With decades of teaching experience, I know firsthand that this kind of career support is something Oklahoma teachers want and need.
I have experienced what teachers are facing on the ground in Oklahoma. The truth is that a lack of opportunities for advancement is deterring driven, hardworking young teachers from growing their careers in our state.
The first five years in the classroom are critical. Data shows that within that time period we lose many qualified young teachers — not because they don’t love teaching, but because there are few opportunities for career growth, promotions or advancement. Combined with the hardships teachers can face, this can cause educators to leave the profession entirely or leave for other states, like Texas, where salaries are higher.
It takes a special kind of person to be an excellent teacher. With an ongoing teacher shortage impacting our students, it must be our top priority to not only keep excellent teachers in our classrooms, but also to recruit promising young professionals to the field and ensure they have access to mentors who can guide them through the challenges of managing a classroom.
We need to provide an environment where incoming teachers can begin a promising career and support themselves and their families. In short, we owe it both to our teachers and our students to show that Oklahoma values its educators.
That starts with encouraging our teachers’ success. We need to give teachers the advancement opportunities they deserve as qualified, educated professionals, as well as support and mentorship to help them grow in their profession.
This legislation is a victory for education in our state, and a promising sign that Oklahoma is prioritizing the resources and recognition of its teachers.
I want to thank the Legislature for passing this critical initiative that will lift up Oklahoma teachers and, in turn, Oklahoma students.
This bill will help solve a pressing problem for our educators — and that’s reason to celebrate. Let’s give excellent teachers the recognition, opportunities and pay they deserve. Let’s continue making Oklahoma a great place to teach and learn.
Jon Hazell is 2017 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Opinion: Measure will make Oklahoma a great place for teachers to grow
