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Readin’-Writin’- Recruitin’ By Hilary Anderson Chicago-area Catholic schools need more teachers. The archdiocese is searching hard, but the task is made more difficult by a nationwide teacher shortage. Add local factors that pull certified teachers out of the availability pool and recruitment becomes an enormous challenge. “There is a wave of early retirement packages being offered by public schools statewide to long-term teachers,” said Congregation of Notre Dame Sister Margaret Farley, coordinator of school personnel services for the archdiocesan Office for Catholic Education. “Consequently, [public schools] are going after many of our current teachers and young people just graduating from college who are considering teaching as a career. They offer more money and often lure away good people.” Farley acknowledges that salary is an important consideration but adds that teaching in a Catholic school offers more than money can buy. “This is a way of passing on our faith,” she said. “It’s a type of ministry.” Many Catholic school teachers agree. Those surveyed about why they remain also say they like the sense of community prevalent in a Catholic school. Others enjoy what tends to be a smaller student population. Many are products of Catholic schools and want to give back some of what they received. The numbers prove there is something other than money that draws teachers to archdiocesan Catholic schools. “Last year we placed 838 teachers in our system of 4,700,” said
Farley. Regardless of the reasons for teaching in a Catholic school, salary parity often is a major stumbling block in the retention of some teachers or recruitment of new ones. Starting salary for new teachers in Chicago Archdiocese schools is $20,350. It tops out at only $34,885. Starting salaries for public school teachers in large urban areas often start in that range. However, teachers in Catholic schools can earn additional income for advanced degrees, said Farley. In addition, she said, “Cardinal George has the goal of trying to raise Catholic school teachers’ pay to 75 percent of the lay teacher in a public school within the next ten years.” Farley repeatedly interjects that the quality of teachers remains high even though the salary is lower than that paid at most public schools. “Ninety-three percent of our teachers are state-certified,” Farley said. “Many people mistakenly think our standards are lower because of the lower salaries. They’re not!” The salary issue increased as the pool of religious teachers decreased. “Overall only seven percent of the Chicago Archdiocese Catholic school system are religious,” said Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Josephine Sferrella, Catholic schools’ director of data and research. “Of those, 26 percent are in administration. Only five percent of the teachers are actually religious.” Regardless of the salary issue, the Chicago Archdiocese is proactively seeking additional teachers. Some recruitment ideas are still in the planning stages. One is tapping into those soon-to-be-retired or already retired public school teachers. “We value the time of these educators and believe many would now like to join us in spreading the faith in a variety of teaching positions,” said Farley. “We are open to part-time, sharing a position, full-time and substitute positions. Perhaps a mother of young children might wish to teach half-days or a few days a week. She could share a position with another in a similar situation.” Another potential source of teachers for archdiocesan schools is the bubbling pool of those who are considering a career change. “Many colleges and universities in the Chicago area are offering programs that enable those with bachelors degrees in ‘something else’ to become state-certified after completing their education coursework,” said Farley. Loyola University Chicago, in a cooperative program with the Chicago Archdiocese, offers a program for arts and science graduates that leads to a master’s degree in education in curriculum and instruction including state teaching endorsement. Classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. beginning May 16. The program will run for four consecutive semesters. For information, contact Jean McGrew, Loyola University Chicago School of Education: (847) 853-3316 or e-mail: [email protected]. Another idea but still in the planning stage is a type of “teacher corps” where educators could make a commitment to their local Catholic church for as many years as they are able to give. The archdiocese also is considering recruiting teachers from formal volunteer service programs. “There are more than 20 Catholic service groups that place graduates in educational settings in Chicago and Illinois,” said Farley. “We are offering these groups help in placing young adults who wish to give service to the church after college and before beginning graduate school or other careers.” The archdiocese uses traditional job fairs to recruit teachers. Most recent was one hosted by De La Salle Institute, which contacted schools of education and placement offices within a two-hour drive of Chicago. That and word-of-mouth brought a surprising number of candidates whom principals interviewed and promised a second callback. “We wanted to recruit quality teachers for the system and didn’t think we were tapping into the right sources,” said Nick Colletti, De La Salle academics assistant principal. “They came because of the value of a Catholic education. You can’t put a price tag on that. One person living in Florida heard about the job fair and contacted me.” Another growing method of recruiting teachers is through the Internet. The Office of Catholic Education has its own web page and e-mail address: www.techvision.org/ocechicago. Several newly-hired teachers last year initially contacted OCE through the Internet to inquire about teaching jobs. “I miss teaching,” said Sferrella who taught for 30 years. “There is nothing more grand than working with a person and God
to help form that individual. It is a creative aspect of life.
Teaching is a marvelous vocation.”
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