Contact: Ruth Cossio-Muniz, Public Information Coordinator For Immediate Release
Phone (714) 564-6475, Mobile (714) 401-7884
Retirees and High Turnover Among New Teachers Creates Shortage in the Field
SAC’s Center for Teacher Education Committed to Training Quality Teachers
(Santa Ana, CA) – According to the California Teachers Association (CTA), the statistics for turnover among new teachers are shocking. Approximately 20 percent of all new hires leave the classroom within three years. The numbers are even worse in urban districts, where close to 50 percent of newcomers leave the teaching profession during their first five years. Reasons include poor compensation in comparison to other professions that require a similar amount of education, and failed recognition from others in regard to the complexity of teaching. In addition, about a third of the teaching force is nearing retirement. This leaves California in a predicament as the CTA estimates the state will need an additional 100,000 teachers over the next decade. The need for dedicated and quality teachers has become more vital than ever and Santa Ana College (SAC) is aware of this need, which is why the Center for Teacher Education (CFTE) on campus works continuously to provide aspiring teachers information, support, programs, and services to enhance them individually and professionally.
SAC will host the 10th Annual Road to Teaching Conference on October 28, which will feature over 25 workshops for individuals interested in joining the teaching profession. Workshops with a high-demand include Successful Test Taking Strategies: CBEST & CSET, Pathways to Teaching and Classroom Management. In addition, there will be an educational fair featuring credential programs from various local universities. The conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will be held at SAC, 1530 W. 17th Street, Cesar Chavez Building, in Santa Ana.
Serving as keynote speakers will be Ms. Kristine Quinn, who was named Yorba Linda Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2000, and Mr. Denis Cruz, who was named California Teacher of the Year for 2006 in secondary education. Cruz works at Katherine Edwards Middle School in Whittier, California.
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“I am in the greatest profession on the planet,” said Cruz. “America's future citizens and leaders sit in our classrooms. We, as teachers, have the opportunity to affect our nation's future by investing time, energy and wisdom in our students.”
Former SAC student and soon-to-be special education teacher, Maria Elena Jaramillo, has first-hand experience with the CFTE and feels that the program at SAC helped her greatly.
“The staff was always there to lend a hand and inform me of the many programs available,” said Jaramillo who is currently attending California State University, Long Beach. “The counselors advised me of
different teaching paths I could follow.”
Jaramillo hopes to someday help special-needs students realize that although they may have a learning disability, they are capable of being successful.
“All students need to find their talents and enhance them,” said Jaramillo. “Having special needs does not mean they should not try; in my opinion, it just means they should try harder.”
Understanding that all children are unique, yet alike, she remains passionate about teaching. Given the current statistics, dedication like Jaramillo’s is something California can only hope for in the future. Jaramillo now holds a bachelor’s degree in occupational studies, will finish her Education Specialist credential in December, and will begin the special education master’s program in the spring.
The Road to Teaching conference is sponsored by SAC’s Center for Teacher Education, California State University at Fullerton, University of California at Irvine, and Fullerton College. Due to the increasing popularity, all tickets to the conference have been sold out.
For more information about the CFTE program or about the conference, please email, or contact Lorena Marquez at (714) 564-6352 or Tuan Nguyen at (714) 564-6872.
Santa Ana College is a public community college that serves over 50,000 credit and non-credit students annually. SAC provides education for academic transfer and careers, courses for personal and professional development, and workforce training for business and industry.
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