(bright music) - [Announcer] Montana PBS "Equal Time", offering unedited time to candidates for superintendent of public instruction.

As superintendent of public instruction, how would you plan to address Montana's teacher shortage?

- As a current school leader and member of the Board of Public Education, I have worked closely with my fellow constitutional education officers in the legislature and executive branch to support teacher recruitment and retention in Montana.

I'm proud of the work that we have accomplished over the last couple of years to increase starting teacher pay through the Teach Act, reduce healthcare costs through school employee health trust, and other creative benefits the state and local districts are pursuing, such as teacher housing, student loan support, and new pathways to licensure.

I believe there is more we can do and must do to build upon our success and initial efforts.

As state superintendent, I will be actively engaged in reviewing the state's education funding formula next year and will continue working with the legislature next session to strategically pursue policies to support Montana's educators.

- We do indeed have a teacher shortage crisis.

It was just reported that over 2000 teachers left their jobs.

Montana has a long tradition of supporting our teachers for the professionals they are.

However, we consistently rank near the bottom in the US in starting teacher pay, and that presents major difficulties in recruiting and retaining quality educators.

We have to increase pay for new teachers, especially in rural areas.

We can also look at other incentives like childcare, housing, stipends, or bonuses.

I introduced the bipartisan bill last legislative session for the teacher loan assistance program in rural schools.

I also carried the early learning bill and the bill to expand childcare.

We can do this and secure the resources needed to solve this crisis without raising taxes for working Montanans.

We can do better and we must do better for our kids.

They are our future.

- [Announcer] Montana PBS "Equal Time" was made possible by the Greater Montana Foundation.

All "Equal Time" segments are available online at Montanapbs.org/equaltime.

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