UPDATED: SIX THOUSAND WV TEACHERS RETIRING - Propst Says "We're In Cycle Of Retirement"

(06/15/2010)
By Bob Weaver

Signs are up in most West Virginia counties - "Teachers Needed"

School officials say they are struggling to fill vacant positions for the coming year.

The State Department of Education is saying that 6,000 teachers retired at the end of the school year.

Calhoun Superintendent of Schools Roger Propst said Calhoun had five teachers to retire during or at the end of the 2010 school year.

"We are in a cycle of retirements in the county, as are all counties, of the baby boomer generation entering retirement years, and being replaced by a new generation," Propst said.

"It will be interesting to begin looking at the average experience of our teachers as compared to in the past," he said.

Propst said there is difficulty at times attracting math and science teachers to the county.

State officials say it's especially hard for the more rural schools in high need subject areas like math, science and special education.

The most highly qualified teachers with the right credentials don't usually apply to small town schools.