At the Lake: Some districts try luring teachers with incentives

When one usually thinks of a signing bonus, a professional athlete comes to mind.

Facing a teacher shortage that is set to intensify in the upcoming years, California and Nevada have implemented measures to attract and retain instructors.

Nevada offers a $2,000 signing bonus for first-time teachers. Rich Alexander, human resource director for Douglas County School District, was looking to fill at least 10 teacher positions at the beginning of the month for next school year.

High on the list for both states are those able to teach math, science and special education.

Alexander said he has seen the frequency of retirements speed up as the baby boomers age. Thirty teachers out of the 469 in the district are set to retire at the end of the school year, he said.

"That's a very large number. ... I'll end up hiring 30 people," Alexander said.

Unlike Clark County in Las Vegas, Douglas County has little trouble recruiting. Alexander attributes it to location, location, location.

"It's a very popular place to live," he said.

Carol Lark, who moved from Clark County to become superintendent of Douglas county schools, said her former employer had the begin the school year with 300 teacher openings that were filled by substitutes.

"It was getting worse every year," she said. "It was scary. I was pleased I didn't have to face that here."

Although Lake Tahoe Unified School district has had to let teachers go because of declining enrollment for the past six years, officials are keeping their eye on the teacher supply.

Cyndy Wells has been teaching for 29 years. The Tahoe Valley Elementary School teacher is set to retire after next school year. If she had to do it over again she'd teach in a heartbeat but suggested some improvements for the profession. She also said the demand and supply of teachers is cyclical.

"I feel it doesn't pay. I call it my high-pay volunteer job," she said. "I think it's outstanding for the ability for me to help kids ... I see miracles every year."

Human Resources Director Beth Delacour said she has several openings and have received plenty of applications, except for special education.

California has several programs to help attract teachers, such as the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program, which can include signing bonuses and more efficient advertisements.

Phil Lafontaine, director of professional development and curriculum support for the California Department of Education, cited numerous reasons for a teacher shortage.

More requirements for a California credential, stressful working conditions, a lack of technology and better offers in the private sector are some of the gravitational pulling prospective instructors away from the profession.

"When you start seeing a trend and it's consistently downward it does make you worry a bit," said Marilyn Errett, an administrator with the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing.

Both the Whittell High softball and baseball teams were challenged by seasons of transition.

The softball team had its third head coach in three years, while the baseball team didn't qualify for the postseason for the first time in eight years. However, there still were several bright spots for the Warriors, who placed five players on either the first or second teams in the Northern 2A all-league balloting.

WHS senior Megan Esquivel was picked to the first team after leading the Warriors in hitting (.533) and on-base percentage (.850). Junior Abby Kingman, who was a was a first-team all-state and all-league selection in her first two years, was picked to the second team along with senior Joan Browne.

Kingman hit .479 with a team-high 14 stolen bases and led the team with 34 hits. Browne, meanwhile, hit .419 and helped the Whittell to a 14-12 record and a berth in the Northern 2A regional tournament.

"They all developed very well and learned the game," said first-year coach Rich Barna. "I didn't micro-manage the games and I gave them free reign to play. That seemed to work well for them.

"But I can tell you Abby is on a mission now (after not making first team). She had been first-team all state in her first two years, so she's going to be very focused next year."

Ace pitcher Austyn Harrington, who is a junior, and senior Courtney Fields were both honorable-mention picks. Harrington was voted the Warriors' MVP at the team's recent end-of-the-year banquet.

In baseball, Carter Amaral was the Warriors' lone first-team selection after leading the team in hitting with a .480 average in league play. Second-team picks were R.J. Gardner, who was the team's top pitcher and hit .370 with 10 RBI, and sophomore Anthony Taricco, who led the team in RBI (14).

Senior Joseph Hsiao was named honorable mention. Amaral was also voted second-team all state, a balloting process that only included the coaching staffs of the four teams that qualified for the 2A state tournament.

"R.J. was the heart and soul of our pitching staff," said coach Don Amaral, whose team finished 4-21-2 and missed the postseason for the first time since he took over the program. "Anthony was a potent bat for us all year and played three different positions, plus designated hitter. I look forward to having him back next year.

"And Joseph Hsiao was just a success story. Three years ago, he never played baseball before in his life. He just wanted to come out and be with his friends. Three years later, he's getting all-league recognition."

Tyler Fairbank, who won the Northern 2A regional golf title, and Kirk Baines were first team all-state picks. Marty Rahbeck was second-team all-state and coach Steve Maltase was voted the Nevada 2A coach of the year. The Warriors won the 2A state title.