In December 2017, in response to Michigan school district’s struggles with teacher shortages, MASA created the Educator Shortage Workgroup (ESW) to develop member-driven solutions. The workgroup included 21 superintendents representing regions from across the state to address the educator shortage problem that most districts are experiencing. In addition to the several ESW meetings and the group’s reading and research, the ESW also met with other stakeholders who share our mutual challenge (MDE leaders, college deans, marketing experts, etc.) before carefully brainstorming actionable strategies to address the growing gaps in effectively staffing our schools.
In July 2018, the ESW released a toolkit of short-term strategies districts can use now. The toolkit serves as a collection of current options and promising strategies from around the state and nation.
In March 2019, MASA released “Turning the Tide on the Talent Shortage – A Strategic Plan to Revitalize Careers for Michigan’s Current and Future Educators.”
Three new, smaller workgroups were formed during the summer of 2019. Each group focuses on each of the ESW Strategic Plan Goals. The groups met for the first time in October 2019, and will work to create action plans/steps to implement the focus strategies of each goal.
ESW Toolkit
ESW Strategic Plan
Educator Shortage Workgroup Rosters
Educator Shortage Workgroup Members
- Eric VanDamme, Mid Peninsula School District
- Stacy Price, Tahquamenon Area Schools
- Phil Mikulski, West Branch-Rose City Area Schools
- Matt Lukshaitis, Pine River Area Schools
- Shelly Millis, Montabella Community Schools
- Roger Bearup, Grandville Public Schools
- Shawn Hale, Bullock Creek Schools
- Mike Sharrow, Midland Public Schools
- Brian Keim, Elkton-Pigeon Bay-Port Laker Schools
- Mike Lytle, Lakeville Community Schools
- Jason Mellema, Ingham ISD
- Dave Schulte, Shiawassee RESD
- David Hornak, Holt Public Schools
- Pat Kreger, Union City Community Schools
- Dr. Robin Buchler, Mattawan Consolidated Schools
- John Denney, Hanover-Horton Schools
- Sean McNatt, Lincoln Consolidated Schools
- Stacey Denewith-Fici, Warren Woods Public Schools
- Dr. Keith Wunderlich, Waterford School District
- Pete Kudlak, Van Buren Public Schools
- Yvonne Caamal Canul, Lansing School District
Educator Shortage Workgroup Goal 1 Members
- Chris Davidson, Public Schools of Calmet, Laurium & Keweenaw
- Thomas McKee, Whitefish Township Community Schools
- Julie Brown, Houghton Lake Community School District
- Roger Bearup, Grandville Public Schools
- Stephanie O’Dea, Montcalm Area ISD
- Heidi Kattula, East Grand Rapids Schools
- Kevin Polston, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools
- Dr. Jason Jeffrey, West Shore ESD
- Matt Cortez, Muskegon Public Schools
- Melody Strang, Genesee School District
- Dr. David Hornak, Holt Public Schools
- Dr. John Deiter, DeWitt Public Schools
- Dr. Bobbi Morehead, Covert Public Schools
- Blake Prewitt, Lakeview School District
- Barb Santo, Dexter Community Schools
- Ryle Kiser, Grass Lake Community Schools
- Matt Outlaw, Brandon School District
- Carly Stone, Waterford School District
Educator Shortage Workgroup Goal 2 Members
- Greg Nyen, Burt Township Schools
- Steve Martin, Menominee ISD
- Matt Lukshaitis, Pine River Area Schools
- Dan O’Connor, Alcona Community Schools
- Jamie Gordon, Kentwood Public Schools
- Shelly Millis, Montabella Community Schools
- Shawn Hale, Bullock Creek School District
- Ben Mainka, Swartz Creek Community Schools
- Eric Hoppstock, Berrien RESA
- Tom Zahrt, Kalamazoo RESA
- Julie Powell, Lakeshore Public Schools
- Chuck North, Reading Community Schools
- Dr. Sarena Shivers, Redford Union Schools
- Maysam Alie-Bazzi, Dearborn Public Schools
- Stacey Denewith-Fici, Warren Woods Public Schools
- Phil Jankowski, Armada Area Schools
Educator Shortage Workgroup Goal 3 Members
- Jay Kulbertis, Gladstone/Rapid River Schools
- Alan Tulppo, Gogebic-Ontonagon ISD
- Mike Ritter, Charlevoix Public Schools
- Jamie Huber, Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle ESD
- Ron Wilson, Ionia Public Schools
- Liz Cotter, Northview Public Schools
- Jeff Mount, Mason County Central Schools
- Tom Livezey, Oakridge Public Schools
- Matt Montange, Plainwell Community Schools
- Michael Sharrow, Midland Public Schools
- Scott Sawyer, Saginaw ISD
- Sarah Barratt, Marlette Community Schools
- Mike Lytle, Lakeville Community Schools
- Paul Flynn, Sandusky Community Schools
- Laura Colligan, Ingham ISD
- Dr. Robin Buchler, Mattawan Consolidated School
- Dr. Rusty Stitt, Schoolcraft Community School
- Kimberly Carter, Battle Creek Public Schools
- Nanette Pauley, Marcellus Community Schools
- John Denney, Hanover-Horton Schools
- Amy Conway, Gibraltar School District
- David Rodgers, Northville Public Schools
- Todd Robinson, Romeo Community Schools
- Peter Kudlak, Van Buren Public Schools
- Piper Bognar, Van Dyke Public Schools
- Michael Darga, Allen Park Public Schools
- Jill Chochol, Dearborn Public Schools
- Dr. Josha Talison, Ecorse Public Schools
- Amy Kruppe, Hazel Park Schools