Spring Break
New Orleans schools struggle with teacher shortage
Students return to homes as Hurricane Katrina damages are repaired
Kate Stickelmaier
Issue date: 3/19/07 Section: News
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, both public and charter schools have struggled to recruit enough teachers in the New Orleans, La. school district in order to rebuild the school system.
"The New Orleans population remains about half of the pre-Katrina levels, but families continue to return as damaged homes are repaired," Siona LaFrance, communications director on the Recovery School District of New Orleans, said, "The need for teachers continues to be a moving target as families and students return to the city."
Fifty-six public schools are currently open in New Orleans. Twenty are run by the state-funded Recovery School District and five are operated by the Orleans Parish School Board. The RSD has hired approximately 600 teachers for these 20 schools, according to LaFrance.
"As new schools open, the gap numbers spike to reflect teachers needed for those schools," LaFrance said.
There are a total of 31 charter schools open. These independent public schools are affiliated either with the RSD or OPSB. The RSD continues to register between 200 and 300 new students a week, according to LaFrance.
Before Hurricane Katrina, more than 120 public schools were open in New Orleans.
"[As a future educator] I would hesitate to move to New Orleans since the conditions down there are still so bad," Stephanie Wagner, a freshman early education major, said. New Orleans is facing huge challenges that make it difficult for teachers who want to come back to find an affordable place to live. The average rent in New Orleans pre-Katrina was $700 to $800. Post-Katrina, the average rent is $1,200 to $1,300. Many former New Orleans teachers and administrators lived in the New Orleans East area of the city, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, according to LaFrance.
"Many have found work elsewhere while they [are] struggling to rebuild their homes back in New Orleans," LaFrance said.
The New Orleans school district is developing a "comprehensive recruiting package" that would include signing bonuses, a housing allowance, moving costs and assistance with alternative certifications.
"The New Orleans population remains about half of the pre-Katrina levels, but families continue to return as damaged homes are repaired," Siona LaFrance, communications director on the Recovery School District of New Orleans, said, "The need for teachers continues to be a moving target as families and students return to the city."
Fifty-six public schools are currently open in New Orleans. Twenty are run by the state-funded Recovery School District and five are operated by the Orleans Parish School Board. The RSD has hired approximately 600 teachers for these 20 schools, according to LaFrance.
"As new schools open, the gap numbers spike to reflect teachers needed for those schools," LaFrance said.
There are a total of 31 charter schools open. These independent public schools are affiliated either with the RSD or OPSB. The RSD continues to register between 200 and 300 new students a week, according to LaFrance.
Before Hurricane Katrina, more than 120 public schools were open in New Orleans.
"[As a future educator] I would hesitate to move to New Orleans since the conditions down there are still so bad," Stephanie Wagner, a freshman early education major, said. New Orleans is facing huge challenges that make it difficult for teachers who want to come back to find an affordable place to live. The average rent in New Orleans pre-Katrina was $700 to $800. Post-Katrina, the average rent is $1,200 to $1,300. Many former New Orleans teachers and administrators lived in the New Orleans East area of the city, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, according to LaFrance.
"Many have found work elsewhere while they [are] struggling to rebuild their homes back in New Orleans," LaFrance said.
The New Orleans school district is developing a "comprehensive recruiting package" that would include signing bonuses, a housing allowance, moving costs and assistance with alternative certifications.
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