Q&A: Katy ISD Position 5 candidates talk teacher retention, recruitment

In light of the national teacher shortage, what would be your strategy for recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers in Katy ISD?

Teachers generally don’t enter the teaching profession for the pay. They become teachers because they love to teach. So, I would first focus on their job satisfaction by addressing their discipline concerns, adhering to classroom size limits and decreasing their administrative workload. I want to pay Katy ISD teachers and frontline staff a salary comparable to surrounding districts, if not a bit more. Hiring back retired teachers and offering part-time options are other ideas.

In light of the national teacher shortage, what would be your strategy for recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers in Katy ISD?

The key is to make Katy ISD appealing for seasoned teachers and new recruits. Having competitive compensation packages needs to be a priority. When recruiting teachers, we need to start the hiring process early, attend university job fairs to secure incoming graduates and work collaboratively with universities to develop cohorts for education. Resources, workshops and support should be easily accessible. We need to empower teachers so they can do what they do best—teach.