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Education is a priority in Kansas legislature
What does it take to be a teacher? According to District 4 Kansas State Rep. Shirley Palmer, "it takes someone who is willing to touch the future."
This quote, she acknowledges, was paraphrased from one made by an astonishing teacher back in the mid-1980s. The teacher was Christa McAuliffe, the first civilian chosen for space travel. McAuliffe once said, "I touch the future. I teach."
Palmer made these comments during a recent conversation about the state of education in Kansas. According to Palmer and the Legislative Division of Post Audit, 25 percent of the current Kansas teaching staff is eligible to retire in the next five years. In addition, the number of teachers eligible to retire in the state exceeds the number of teachers currently produced by the state's colleges and universities.
According to Palmer, who taught second grade for more than 38 years (most of which were in Fort Scott), one of the main problems with recruiting and maintaining teachers in Kansas is the low pay. Information supplied by Palmer states that Kansas ranks 37th in the nation in teacher salaries. At 37th, the average Kansas teacher's salary is $41,467. To rank at 25th place, salaries would have to average $44,439 and to rank average the salaries would have to climb to $49,026.
"One of our top priorities has to be in getting salaries for teachers up," Palmer said. "Higher salaries will draw more qualified individuals to the teaching field and we'll be able to keep them longer. The teaching field is competing with the business world for candidates." Currently, 42 percent of Kansas teachers leave within the first seven years of teaching. This, according to Palmer, is due to the higher salaries available to students with degrees in math and science in the competitive world outside of academics.
"If anyone should be paid well it should be those that are influencing our children," said Palmer.
"Education is the engine for economic growth," Palmer said. "Teachers make the difference for everything. The most significant factor in student achievement is the teacher."
Palmer said that this legislative session education has to be a top priority.
"Education is the biggest portion of the Kansas budget."
This, according to Palmer, is one reason she was so pleased to introduce Danny and Chris Ellis of The Ellis Foundation to Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and the Kansas House of Representatives. The Ellises were in Topeka in late January to discuss their scholarship program with Sebelius and propose a program that would establish up to 1,000 new scholarships in the state. A similar plan recently was proposed by The Ellis Foundation to Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt.
"The scholarship program proposed by the Ellises is fantastic," Palmer said. "They (the Ellises) are reaching out trying to give so much to others. They are giving and sharing so much with a loving heart."
During the trip to Topeka, Danny and Chris Ellis met with Sebelius, the education committee and had lunch with the Kansas Education Caucus. In addition, Rep. Palmer presented the Ellises to the Kansas House of Representatives, where they received an official proclamation and a standing ovation for their dedicated work and commitment to educating students.
The Ellises returned to Topeka in late February at which time they met with Reginald Robinson, president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents; Diane Duffy, vice president for finance and administration; and Aaron Otto, legislative liaison to the Governor.
"Shirley needs to be recognized for her hard work and devotion," Danny Ellis said. "Our trip to Topeka demonstrated to us just how well respected Shirley is at the Capitol. I'm confident our proposal will be taken seriously with Shirley's leadership." "When this scholarship proposal is accepted I hope that we'll be able to educate more teachers for the State of Kansas," said Palmer. "We take so much for granted -- calling someone 'just a teacher,'" Palmer said. "One of the most important jobs in the world is teaching."