School retirements expected to rapidly rise

Thursday, April 26, 2007

School retirements expected to rapidly rise

Up to 30 percent of elementary school staff are Boomers

by Margarita Raycheva | Staff Writer

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In just a few months, Vicki Coleman will be free to travel to Hawaii, visit friends in Florida, volunteer at a library or teach as a substitute.

‘‘I’m not sure what I want to do when I grow up,” says the 59-year-old fifth-grade teacher who plans to retire at the end of the school year.

Coleman has taught for 36 years, the last 18 at Brunswick Elementary. Although it took her a year to make up her mind, she has decided it is time for a change.

‘‘I’m just ready to slow down,” she said. ‘‘I don’t want to get too old before I can enjoy my retirement.”

Born in 1948, Coleman is among the first wave of Baby Boomers retiring from Frederick County Public Schools this year. Baby boomers, who carried the system through the last three decades, started hitting 60 in 2006.

The generation will leave behind gaps at all levels in county schools. The state already has a teacher shortage, so finding more to take over for retirees will be a special challenge.

County schools senior manager for staffing Sally Smith said 55 employees have announced retirements so far this year. More may come in before the July 1 deadline, Smith said.

Retirements have been creeping up in recent years – from 39 in 2004-05 to 71 in 2005-06, Smith said, and the numbers will continue to rise.

In elementary schools, Baby Boomers hold a near monopoly over administrative positions — from secretaries and technology specialists to principals and assistant principals.

Within the next three years, up to 30 percent of elementary school principals may be ready to retire, said Steve Martin, associate superintendent for elementary curriculum and instruction.

‘‘We’ll see a major turnover,” he said, adding that those spots are not easy to fill.

The school system will have to consider many factors when determining how to attract, hire and keep qualified personnel, said Gary Brennan, president of the Frederick County Teachers Association.

‘‘A lot of training will have to be geared toward young teachers,” he said, adding that the county will also need to establish a more formal mentoring system.

Coleman works with many new teachers and thinks they will have no problem picking up where the Baby Boomers leave off.

‘‘I think they are more like the children — they know what students are drawn to,” she said.

‘‘They will be fine. Here it is like a fraternity or sorority — we help each other,” she added.