Amplifying educator voice

It comes as a surprise to no one that North Dakota, like every other state in the nation, is in the throes of an unprecedented teacher shortage. Long-time administrators will tell you that where once there were dozens of applications for each open position, they are now fortunate to receive one or two worthy applicants, if any. Many educators will tell you that K-12 education remains an honorable and vital profession with an ever-increasing level of stress. What both agree on is that the consequences of ignoring the teacher shortage are dire and that this challenge cannot go unmet.

That is why all of us at ND United are appreciative of Governor Doug Burgum’s creation of the Recruitment and Retention Task Force. Through this task force, North Dakota can do what no other state has yet accomplished: end the teacher shortage and return respect and dignity to public education and the professionals who provide it.

There is not a single cause of the teacher shortage. It came about as the result of many factors. Among them is that public education, like many of our nation’s institutions, was thrust into the ceaseless churn of the culture wars. The notion that, “all politics is local” became a moot point and North Dakota became caught up in the national and irrational hysteria surrounding CRT, DEI, Common Core and any number of things that were not – and are not – in evidence in our state. Teachers and librarians were dragged into this sociopolitical scrum caused by charlatans who have turned stoking ideological outrage into a lucrative grift. While those hucksters became influencers of ideologues who value sound bites over sound policy, teachers became worn down by unseemly accusations and insinuations that called into question their integrity and professionalism.

The Recruitment and Retention Task Force has the opportunity to reverse this slide. Through its work, the task force can make recommendations to the Governor and legislature to design policies that amplify the voices of educators and improve salaries and benefits that are commensurate with the important work they do every day. In addition, the task force can recommend improved working conditions with adequate staffing levels so that teachers and education support professionals are able to meet the needs of every child in their charge. Other recommendations should include creating meaningful and less burdensome pathways to licensure and using data to inform decisions on teacher recruitment and retention.

Governor Burgum was right to form this task force and he and the legislature will be right to take its recommendations seriously. As a society, we do not do anything more important than educate our future. By continuing to ignore the teacher shortage or implementing strategies that nibble around the edges of policy, we are failing both our students and our future. Now is the time for bold action. I am confident that with all stakeholders at the table, we can fulfill the promise of great public schools in every community in North Dakota.

Nick Archuleta is the president of North Dakota United, the state’s largest professional union of public educators and employees, representing more than 11,000 public school teachers and staff, university faculty and staff and city, county and state employees.