Heath Morrison’s Blog
Uncertified Teachers Can’t Be a Permanent Solution for School Districts
For the better part of the last decade, as I have engaged with my fellow superintendents from across the country regarding the most challenging issues confronting public education, the looming teacher shortage was always high in the topics discussed. Over the last few...
Time To Thank Teachers for Their Service
After the war in Vietnam, it was common for those who served in the military to be publicly berated for their service. It has been a wonderful transformation to see how that has shifted in recent years. My father, a proud member of the Air Force, would come to tears...
The Days of Part-Time Legislatures are Over
Many state legislatures across the nation have convened for their annual legislative session. A handful, including Texas, hold regular sessions every two years and are in the midst of their off-session year. Yet for many states, what is typically a three to four-month...
The Looming Fiscal Crisis for School Districts
School districts often struggle to balance the needs of all children under the financial constraints in which they operate annually. While this has long been the case, the severity of recent inflationary costs that all sectors have confronted across the country has...
Strengthening the Teacher Workforce: Recommendations for State Lawmakers
A strong, dedicated and effective teacher workforce is the cornerstone of a successful education system. State lawmakers can play a critical role in conditioning the environments in which teachers work and students learn. With the current teacher shortage impacting...
Unqualified Teacher Growth – A National Challenge
As schools across the country opened this month, the usual first-day question of “Who is my child’s teacher?” must now include: “And are they qualified?” By 2025, it is expected there will be over 300,000 teacher vacancies nationwide. To fill these gaps, many states...
The Teacher Shortage Needs More Than “Lip Service” To Solve
I’m always appreciative when someone knows my background as a superintendent and industry leader in education and tells me how much they value teachers. Usually, it’s to share stories about how a teacher helped shape their life or the extraordinary impact teachers are...
The Teacher Shortage Is Now A Crisis and Hiring Uncertified Candidates Cannot Be The Answer
Across the country, schools are welcoming students back to the classroom. Unlike previous years where a parent had every reason to expect their child would be welcomed by a fully certified teacher, schools have struggled to find such educators, and have tried to plug...
Focus On Your Exit Like You Do Your Entry, Part 2
Every leader who has attained any level of success inevitability is contacted about other job opportunities. Your leadership story is just as much the opportunities you say no to as much as the ones you do decide to pursue. Several leaders often forget that it is as...
Focus On Your Exit Like You Do Your Entry, Part 1
Every leader who has attained any level of success inevitability is contacted about other job opportunities. Your leadership story is just as much the opportunities you say no to as much as the ones you do decide to pursue. Several leaders often forget that it is as...