Welcome to the first electronic edition of VCOE's Focus on Education. We've made the transition from print to digital for a variety of reasons - in addition to the environmental and cost benefits, we feel this is the best way to reach you where you're already doing much of your reading; whether it's on a computer, tablet or mobile phone.

Focus on Education will continue to bring you current news and information about the work being done at VCOE and throughout Ventura County to expand and improve educational opportunities for local residents. In this edition, we're taking a special look at careers in education. With California facing a serious shortage of teachers, there's never been a better time to encourage bright young minds to apply their skills and passion in local classrooms.

We thank you for your interest and invite you to join our mailing list to receive future editions of Focus on Education by email. You may also contact us with your comments, questions or story suggestions. We look forward to hearing from you.

Stan Mantooth

Ventura County Superintendent of Schools

California is in the midst of a severe teacher shortage that's created a job-seeker's market for people considering careers in education. It's a dramatic shift from several years ago when school districts were forced to lay off teachers in large numbers.

The improving economy and the passage of Proposition 30, which increased taxes to fund education, means schools now have money to hire new teachers; but they're having trouble finding enough qualified candidates. "The numbers went way down in the teacher preparation programs and now that the jobs have come back, the candidates aren't there," says David Simmons, the Assistant Superintendent in charge of teacher preparation programs at the Ventura County Office of Education.  

According to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, more than 27,000 new preliminary teaching credentials were issued in 2003-04. By 2009-10, that number plummeted to just 16,151. The CTC says enrollment in teacher preparation programs dropped by more than 50 percent between 2001-02 and 2009-10.

In Ventura County the teacher shortage is less severe than in other parts of the state. Simmons says it's because there are several teacher preparation programs in our region and because Ventura County is a desirable place to live and work. "We're actually better off than a lot of other places," he says. 

Ventura County also sets itself apart when it comes to the cost of becoming a teacher. After earning their preliminary credential, new teachers must complete additional training known as induction, which can cost between $4,000 and $6,000. Kim Uebelhardt, VCOE's Executive Director of Teacher Support Services, says teacher candidates in Ventura County haven't had to bear that expense. "We're fortunate in our county that every single one of our districts has agreed to pay for their teachers' induction," she says.

It's one more reason it's a great time to pursue a teaching career in Ventura County, but Uebelhardt says the most important one is the chance to make an impact. "If you want to make a difference in children's lives and make a difference in our society, it's the job for you. People who have the calling for teaching see the bigger picture and know that education is the key to success."

Teacher Preparation Programs in Ventura County 

• California Lutheran University Graduate School of Education 
• CSU Channel Islands School of Education 
• Ventura County Office of Education Teacher Support Services 

Ever since she was a girl, Liz Hoppe knew she wanted to teach. "It was always what I was called to do and I can't think of any other profession I want to be part of."

Hoppe has spent most of her career teaching fourth and sixth graders in the Hueneme School District. Last year, she was honored to be named Ventura County Teacher of the Year by the Ventura County Office of Education.  

Now in her twentieth year of teaching, she has no doubt she made the right career choice. "One of my favorite things is working with kids and building relationships and getting to know them and interacting with them."

Hoppe says teaching allows her to use her creativity on a daily basis "to choose how I'm going to present a lesson, how I'm going to manage a class, how I'm going to create a room environment." One way she recently used that creativity to engage her students was to hold a poetry competition in a classroom set up like a coffee house. She's also had students create Egyptian pyramids and perform plays based on Greek mythology. She says the work of a teacher involves much more than following a predetermined lesson plan. "That's not teaching. Teaching is knowing your students and knowing how you're going to present things so that they'll receive them and be excited about learning."

Hoppe received her teaching credential from CSU Long Beach and her master's degree in educational technology from Azusa Pacific University. She also received specialized training in teaching gifted students at UC Santa Barbara. But more than any degree, Hoppe says the key to success as a teacher is having a passion for improving kids' lives. "If teaching is what you generally feel you were meant to do, all the hard work is worth it."

Despite her accomplishments, Hoppe isn't standing still. Like many other teachers, she has used her experience in the classroom to open doors to new opportunities. She recently became the Hueneme School District's Technology Resource Teacher, helping her fellow educators make the most of high tech-tools.

Ventura County school districts, faced with a large demand and low supply of new teachers, are getting creative with their recruiting. "We have scrambled to really get great teachers, and I know other districts have been doing the same," says Dr. Trudy Arriaga, Superintendent of the Ventura Unified School District.

Arriaga says it's a big change from years past when there was a glut of teachers searching for openings that didn't exist. "It was very dramatic and very disappointing," she says. "I met many young people who wanted to be teachers all their lives; they were ready to go and there wasn't anything for them."

Today, with many openings going unfilled, VUSD and other local districts are aggressively marketing themselves to potential new hires. "It's really a competitive process," Arriaga says. "And it's one where every district has to ensure they have excellent marketing strategies and they have a product that is attractive."

For example, VUSD emphasizes its positive work culture, stable leadership, engaged parents and generous health benefits to attract the best candidates. The district also recently held a recruiting fair to find high quality teachers. "We're actually offering contracts that very day to people we consider to be the five-star candidates," Arriaga says.

Districts are also working to correct an image problem that has steered people away from careers in education. Arriaga bristles at media reports that blame teachers for problems in public schools. She says bad teachers are hard to find. "Frankly, I haven't met one, so I'm not sure who they're talking about and I'm in schools every day." Arriaga says local teachers are more qualified than ever, and students are getting an education that's far superior to the one she received when she was a student in VUSD schools.

Arriaga is confident the allure of teaching will draw people back to the profession. "The best recruiting tool we have is that there's nothing like being a teacher," she says. "When all is said and done, if you want to change lives and impact the future, be a teacher."

• EDJOIN - a comprehensive database of education openings in Ventura County and beyond

• Ventura County Office of Education - openings at the VCOE administrative offices in Camarillo and at VCOE school sites throughout Ventura County

VC Innovates will provide career and technical education in sectors recognized as the economic drivers of our region. This unprecedented opportunity brings together eight school districts, three community colleges, the Workforce Investment Board of Ventura County, and over 65 business and community partners. If you are a local business or community group that would like to join this effort, click here to let us know. For more information about VC Innovates, please visit our website at vcinnovates.org.  

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