I read this story about the Omaha public school system not having enough SpEd teachers to fulfill it’s contractual obligation to the families of students with IEPs. Journalism sure is faltering in this country.
I can tell you exactly why Omaha has a teacher shortage, and not just because I’m a maths teacher.
Consider the cost to get a degree and a teaching credential in Nebraska. According to the Omaha Public Schools Salary and Benefit Summary, the starting salary for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree is $43,000, while a teacher with a master’s degree can earn up to $85,000 over time. So, let’s use the former number.
According to Payscale, the average salary in Omaha, NE is $69k. So, would you go to the expense of getting a degree and a credential to make $26k under the city’s average?
Then, according to Redfin, the median sale price of a home in Omaha was $275,000 in July 2023, up 3.8% compared to last year. Assuming a 20% down payment of $55,000, the remaining mortgage amount would be $220,000. Using Bankrate’s loan pre-qualification calculator, we can estimate that a person with an annual income of $43k and no other debt would likely qualify for a mortgage of approximately $132,000.
So, would you go to the expense of getting a degree and a credential to make $26k under the city’s average and you could barely afford housing? The numbers just don’t add up.
Thus, if you’re going to an IEP meeting at your child’s school, please be sure to ask if they have the specialized staff to fulfill the IEP. If they don’t, consider your options.
Teacher shortages are everywhere in the US
Teacher shortages are everywhere in the US
Teacher shortages are everywhere in the US
I read this story about the Omaha public school system not having enough SpEd teachers to fulfill it’s contractual obligation to the families of students with IEPs. Journalism sure is faltering in this country.
I can tell you exactly why Omaha has a teacher shortage, and not just because I’m a maths teacher.
Consider the cost to get a degree and a teaching credential in Nebraska. According to the Omaha Public Schools Salary and Benefit Summary, the starting salary for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree is $43,000, while a teacher with a master’s degree can earn up to $85,000 over time. So, let’s use the former number.
According to Payscale, the average salary in Omaha, NE is $69k. So, would you go to the expense of getting a degree and a credential to make $26k under the city’s average?
Then, according to Redfin, the median sale price of a home in Omaha was $275,000 in July 2023, up 3.8% compared to last year. Assuming a 20% down payment of $55,000, the remaining mortgage amount would be $220,000. Using Bankrate’s loan pre-qualification calculator, we can estimate that a person with an annual income of $43k and no other debt would likely qualify for a mortgage of approximately $132,000.
So, would you go to the expense of getting a degree and a credential to make $26k under the city’s average and you could barely afford housing? The numbers just don’t add up.
Thus, if you’re going to an IEP meeting at your child’s school, please be sure to ask if they have the specialized staff to fulfill the IEP. If they don’t, consider your options.