Both the state and Hawaii County are experiencing a shortage of public school teachers, according to the state Department of Education.
“We have a shortage, but we’re also working to address it,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said during a livestream interview last month.
As of June 13, the DOE reports Hawaii County had approximately 196 classroom teacher vacancies: 41 for the Hilo-Waiakea complex area, 50 for the Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa complex area, and 105 for the Honokaa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena complex.
“All schools in the Honokaa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena and Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa complex areas qualify as hard-to-staff geographical locations,” said DOE spokesperson Krislyn Yano, citing their remoteness and rural locations.
Due to their hard-to-fill status, the DOE has implemented salary differentials to combat the shortage.
“The department offers salary differentials ranging from $3,000 to $8,000 for qualifying educators at hard-to-staff geographical locations,” she said. “One-time relocation bonuses of $2,000 and $3,000 are also offered for hard-to-staff schools.”
The pay differentials are a promising improvement, according to Yano, who noted DOE had an increase of licensed teachers and a decrease of nonlicensed teachers following the first year of its implementation.
Waikoloa Middle School teacher Kristal Blacksmith serves as a DOE “aloha ambassador” for the Big Island, helping with the transition and recruitment of prospective teachers. She cited financial challenges related to the high cost of living as a main concern among potential recruits.
“I took a 50% pay cut when I came,” said Blacksmith, who moved from New Jersey to the Big Island 15 years ago to teach. “You have to be open to working two or three jobs.”
The high cost of housing was cited by both the DOE and Blacksmith as a key concern among applicants, as well.
“I would say housing is number one,” Blacksmith said.
During her work as an ambassador this year, Blacksmith said a teacher she assisted has opted to stay only one more year, and is ready to move on before earning tenure following her third year of teaching.
“She just said it’s so expensive here, and I just can’t afford it,” said Blacksmith, who herself has opted to ride a bicycle to work, shop at the local thrift store and take on multiple jobs to offset the high cost of living.
“Two years ago, when my daughter was still in college, I had three jobs, and my husband had two jobs,” she said. “You have to be willing to pay for paradise.”
Despite the 196 vacancies in Hawaii County, many schools are not attempting to fill all the open positions.
“While some of these vacancies may be reported at the state-level, not all schools are looking to fill those vacancies due to possible changes in enrollment or due to operational changes at our schools,” said Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa district Superintendent Stacey Bello.
Hawaii County complex superintendents also reported a shortage of substitute teachers during the pandemic.
“We did not have a teacher shortage last school year within our complex area,” said Hilo-Waiakea district Superintendent Esther Kanehailua. “But we did experience challenging times related to substitute teacher coverage when staff were out for long periods of time due to COVID.”
Janette Snelling, complex superintendent for the Honokaa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena complex area, expressed a similar concern regarding substitutes.
“Last year, many schools experienced staffing challenges as a result of the COVID pandemic,” she said. “The necessity to quarantine for illness and/or close contacts really stretched schools thin,because like all other complex areas, securing enough substitute teachers was challenging.”
Rural areas report additional challenges when it comes to recruiting teachers to fill vacant positions.
“Recruiting new teachers has always been a challenge in West Hawaii,” Snelling said. “We do have an induction and mentoring support system in place to support teachers within their first few years of teaching, which is helpful in our efforts to retain teachers for the long-term.”
Additional recruitment steps being taken by the DOE include working with University of Hawaii campuses, Chaminade, Hawaii Pacific University and Brigham Young University Hawaii to recruit new teachers.
“The department has a strong relationship with local colleges and universities to help expedite the hiring of local candidates,” said Yano, adding the department also actively engages with high school students statewide to promote careers within the department following graduation.
Throughout the year, the DOE’s Office of Talent Management also has worked to recruit teachers both on and off island.
Special education teachers remain the department’s greatest need statewide, according to Yano, inspiring Blacksmith to transition into teaching special education next year at Waikoloa.
“I really thought it was needed,” said Blacksmith, who previously taught certain special education courses in addition to distant learning, English learners, and general education math and science. “It’s more challenging because you have individual plans for each student.”
Blacksmith said additional barriers for teaching special education include comprehensive paperwork and additional required licensing and certifications.
To encourage more applicants, superintendents continue to share the importance of teachers and the services they provide to their communities.
“Teaching is truly an investment in our youth, who are the future leaders and caretakers of our community,” Kanehailua said. “I am a product of the Hilo-Waiakea complex. As a former student, teacher, vice principal and principal, I cannot think of a more rewarding career than working with students.”
Those interested in becoming teachers in Hawaii can visit the HIDOE recruitment website at https://www.teachinhawaii.org/.
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.