![]() Paul Gazelka, who was formerly the state Senate’s majority leader. Six Republicans have already announced bids in next year’s governor’s contest, including state Sen. The fight’s not over but we’ve got the ball back, we’re on offense and we’re making progress, but the same people who blocked us are trying to take us backwards,” Walz, a former high school football coach, said with Minnesota Lt. “Peggy and I asked Minnesotans to come together and make a goal line stand to fight COVID and protect the economy. Tim Walz (D) launched his reelection campaign for a second term as governor on Tuesday, arguing that voters in the state should give him another four years to continue the fight against the coronavirus and to improve the state’s economy. Contact Editor Patrick Coolican for questions: Follow Minnesota Reformer on Facebook and Twitter.Minnesota Gov. Minnesota Reformer maintains editorial independence. Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. RelatedOne Florida Principal’s Solution to Teacher Shortages? Recruiting His Students Sign up for free newsletters from The 74 to get more like this in your inbox. This story first appeared at The 74, a nonprofit news site covering education. Tim Walz taught a 4th grade class a science lesson about the food chain at the Eagle Ridge Middle School in Savage, Minnesota. Minnesota Governor Highlights Teacher Shortage on Workforce Tour We want our stories to be shared as widely as possible - for free. Research shows that increasing the number of teachers of color can improve learning outcomes for all students.ĭuring the 4th grade class, the students asked Walz a few questions: How was your day? Do you have any pets? And, do you get a lot of paperwork?Īt the end of the lesson, Walz gave all the students a challenge coin engraved with a picture of Minnesota, telling the students they’re often given to members of the military or navy when someone does a good job. “And I think we need to make the case that this is a profession where you can sustain your family and it’s a place where we need you to make a difference.” “I think we need to make it the case that this is a profession where you’re welcome,” Walz said at a media briefing after the class with the 4th graders. ![]() Walz on Wednesday said Minnesota hasn’t done enough to attract teachers of color. Lawmakers committed more than $88 million on a particularly pressing need: programs to increase the number of teachers of color in Minnesota.Ībout 6% of Minnesota teachers are people of color, according to a report by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, even though about 38% percent of students are Black, Indigenous, Latino and Asian American. The Minnesota Legislature during the session boosted K-12 education funding by nearly $2.3 billion - a 10% increase from the previous biennium. Nine out of 10 Minnesota school districts said they have been significantly impacted by the teacher shortage, according to a report released earlier this year. Walz’s office said there are about 225,000 education jobs in Minnesota, of which over 13,000 - roughly 6% - are vacant. Now, many school districts are dealing with a new crisis: A shortage of teachers and staff. Last year, nearly 60% of white students were proficient in reading, while about 30% of Black and Hispanic students were proficient. ![]() And the racial opportunity gaps remain among the nation’s worst. Less than half of Minnesota students are proficient in math, and about half of students are proficient in reading following years when many students spent little time in their classrooms. Instead, he spent the bulk of his first term dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the public safety crisis that accompanied it, both of which may have contributed to flagging student achievement. The former Mankato West High School geography teacher and assistant football coach seemed well positioned to elevate Minnesota’s K-12 education system, which has struggled to close wide opportunity gaps even as the student population has become increasingly diverse. Walz is entering a pivotal period for his education legacy. The unenthusiastic response was emblematic of why Walz was there to briefly teach the students about science and the food chain - to highlight Minnesota’s teacher shortage and difficulty recruiting new workers for the profession. ![]() A few students tentatively put their hands in the air. “How many of you think you’d like to be teachers someday?” Tim Walz on Wednesday asked a group of Savage 4th graders attending summer school a question: ![]() Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. ![]()
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