It is a story that started with a math problem. Parents feared 8th graders at Paul Robeson-Malcom X Academy in Detroit, plus no math teacher, would equal kids behind as they start high school.
To prevent that parents brought 7 Action News into the equation.
“It went from 'Well, we don’t have anyone', to someone is here,” said Aliya Moore, a parent.
After our story aired, the school took action. Now her daughter has a math teacher.
“Sometimes with the schools, when we email or we call, we get the pacifying answer, but when you come out you make things happen,” said Moore.
The district didn’t comment on the new teacher, but has said in the past it is continuously struggling to fill open positions. There are currently more than 180 openings.
It is not something to be ignored.
Superintendents outside Detroit say the teacher shortage in Detroit should serve as a warning. It is starting to take longer across the state to hire teachers - especially in math, science, English as a second language, and special education.
The federal government has warned many teachers are reaching retirement age as the number of college students studying education decreases.
The district says it will have a teacher recruitment fair on Tuesday May 24, 2016. It will take place between 4:30 and 8:30 p.m. at King High School. On-the-spot conditional offers will be made to qualified candidates.
