James_Jan-Feb_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 83
E D U CAT I O N
Choices Shaping Georgia’s Educators
BY TA N A PA G E
hoice defines
Georgia’s future.
For the Educators
First organization, it means
standing with teachers and school
staff, ensuring they are valued,
supported, and protected. Without educators, classrooms cannot
function— and without classrooms,
students cannot succeed. When
the 2026 General Assembly convenes, the choices we make will
determine whether Georgia’s
educators have the resources and
respect they deserve.
TEACHER RETENTION
Georgia faces a critical challenge: nearly half of teachers leave
the profession within a few years,
and the nation began this school
year short more than 400,000
educators. Georgia alone reports a
shortage of 5,300 teachers. Retention is not just about filling vacancies; it is about sustaining the
profession.
Mentoring programs are underway, but stronger measures are
needed to keep experienced educators in the classroom and to attract
new ones.
When nearly half of teachers
leave within a few years, it’s not
just turnover— it’s a revolving door
literacy programs, and we anticipate measurable gains. Our focus
is ensuring teachers have the
training, time, and support to make
these initiatives effective.
UPDATING QUALITY BASIC
EDUCATION (QBE)
that even the best school custodian
can’t keep oiled.
EDUCATOR SAFETY
Safety is not only about students— it is about the professionals
who dedicate their lives to teaching. School Resource Officers, controlled access through key cards
or badges, and physical security
measures such as metal detectors all play a role. One principle
is clear: educators should not be
asked to carry weapons. Their role
is to teach, not to police.
Key cards, badges, and metal
detectors may help, but let’s be
honest— the real unsung heroes of
school security are the teachers
who can spot a cell phone hidden
in a hoodie from across the room.
LITERACY OUTCOMES
Literacy initiatives are important, but they succeed only when
educators are equipped to deliver
them. The state Department of
Education has invested heavily in
Georgia’s QBE formula is outdated and must be modernized to
reflect the realities educators face
every day. Key issues include:
A Funding Formula
That accounts for today’s
classroom demands
Poverty Weights
That recognize the challenges
teachers face in high-need schools
Transportation Shortfalls
That affect educators’ ability
to reach students
Unfunded Mandates
That add responsibilities
without resources
The legislative debate will
center on whether funding should
follow population growth or socioeconomic need. Either way, reform
is overdue— and educators must be
at the center of the conversation.
JA N UA RY /F E B RUARY 2026
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