Want to know how to deal with the teacher shortage crisis in California?
Start by making teaching a more attractive career. That's what CTA President Wayne Johnson says in his latest statewide radio spot that began airing Jan. 14.
"Sadly, California has the most crowded classrooms in America and a big shortage of teachers," Johnson continues in the ad. "In fact, we need to hire 20,000 new teachers every year for the next decade just to hold our own."
What's the solution?
Increasing teacher pay and improving working conditions, he says, to attract the best candidates.
"And we need to give teachers - not distant bureaucrats - a larger role in deciding what and how to teach," he stresses. "With better pay and working conditions and a stronger voice for teachers in the classroom, California can recruit and keep the quality teachers our kids deserve."
The ad was scheduled to run for three weeks. After a hiatus, the next spot in the "Straight Talk" series of ads will begin airing March 11.
CTA Secretary-Treasurer David A. Sanchez will be recording the spots in Spanish.
The spots, which air on 45 stations statewide in all major markets, can be heard on the CTA Web site [www.cta.org].