Replay: How do we keep our teachers? An online community conversation

New challenges are facing teachers as society moves past the initial phases of COVID-19. What are those challenges and how are schools addressing them? How can we make teaching attractive again and help teachers feel valued and heard?

The Charlotte Observer hosted a live discussion Nov. 17 to hear their concerns, consequences, challenges and solutions. For those who missed it, the full replay is available in this article online, on YouTube channel and our Facebook page.

From staff shortages, to heightened security against gun violence, to teaching during an ongoing pandemic, teachers are leaving the profession in massive numbers — as many as 300,000 nationwide. Additionally, how certain subjects are being taught is under intense scrutiny. Teachers are regularly asked or expected to go beyond their job description, or serve as social workers and mental health counselors, but where is the support for them? How are Title I schools affected?

Here’s a look at our panelists who shared what it is like to be a teacher right now.

Leslie Neilsen

An 11-year veteran teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Leslie Nielsen has taught both middle and high school. She’s the executive director of a Teacher in Need NC, a nonprofit organization supporting public school employees.

Rae LeGrone

With a specialty as a fine arts educator, Rae LaGrone has taught in Charlotte-Mecklenburg high schools since 2013. Currently at Olympic High School, LaGrone previously was an adjunct fine arts teacher at Central Piedmont Community College. She also is the vice president of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Association of Educators.

Malcolm B. Butler

Malcolm B. Butler is professor and dean of the Cato College of Education at UNC Charlotte. Butler has taught mathematics, science and life to elementary, middle, high school and college level. Butler has served on the boards of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (a global organization for improving science education through research) and the Nap Ford Community Schools, Inc. in Orlando Florida. Further, as the chairman for the Council of Scientific Society Presidents and as president of the Association for Science Teacher Education.