As we begin the new school year, I would like to thank the community for the support it provides our school and students. The Annawan School community is unbelievably proud and supportive. Our students and staff are lucky to be part of such a wonderful community.
Despite the tremendous support, our school district, like so many others, are facing serious challenges. As administrators we are starting to experience difficulty hiring needed staff members. In October of last year the State of Illinois had over 3,500 unfilled teaching positions. This number is not unique to the state of Illinois. It is a nationwide problem. It is an issue that is taking a toll here in the Annawan Schools.
Reasons for staff shortages in Illinois schools are numerous. Educators in the field have identified some of their concerns. Among the top reasons teachers are leaving the field or simply not entering the profession are unrealistic expectations on educators and schools and the deprofessionalizing of the field of education. If you have an opportunity in the future to thank our educators please do so. Sharing your appreciation goes a long way in keeping teachers in the profession.
This summer has been eventful with staff leaving and administrators attempting to find qualified teachers. Often districts need to get creative and find unique ways to fill open positions. Thankfully, we do not have too many positions to fill this year, but with several teachers’ retirements in upcoming years, the crunch may very well be felt here as well.
The shortage is not only confined to qualified teachers. Bus drivers are in demand as well. Currently, we have enough bus drivers to cover our routes, but if a bus driver retires, gets ill, needs an extended leave, etc. the district will be scrambling to transport students to and from school. If anyone has a CDL and would be interested in being a substitute bus driver, please contact the school and we will help you through the process.
Rest assured we are working to find qualified individuals in both the classroom and with our support staff. As openings are announced, please share the information with people that might be interested. The more we work as a community the better chance we have of filling these positions. Your help is greatly appreciated!
Please understand that the challenge of finding people is our new reality. It is a challenge, but with the community's support we will continue to provide an excellent education for all of our students. We are looking forward to a great start to the school year and we will be ready for the students when they arrive.