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Tim Royers, a former Millard West teacher, is beginning a three-year term as president of the state's teachers union. KEARNEY — Tim Royers, the new president of Nebraska’s teachers union, is sharing grim news as he travels Nebraska. “Ten years ago there were 130 unfilled teaching jobs in Nebraska.
This spring there were 1,200 unfilled teaching positions. That’s an 800% increase,” said Royers. A former Millard West speech and debate coach who taught history, geography and civics, Royers is beginning a three-year term as president of the Nebraska State Education Association.
On Thursday, Royers was in Grand Island before heading to Kearney on Friday. Royers As if the raw numbers don’t underscore the state’s critical teacher shortage, the NSEA asked professional faculty what they think should be done, and the response was jarring. Twenty-eight percent of teachers surveyed said they’re unsure whether they’ll return to the classroom next year.
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“In my mind, addressing the teacher shortage needs to be our biggest priority. We need to retain teachers and bring more people into the profession,” Royers said, teeing up one of the major proposals the NSEA will pursue when state legislators return to Lincoln in January. “Given the radical increase in unfilled teacher positions, there needs to be a bold commitment to teachers," Royers said.
His organization plans to lobby state senators to support the NSEA’s top legislative proposals to recruit and retain teachers for Nebraska classrooms. The NSEA’s plan addresses a chronic sore spot for teachers, who are allowed 10 days of paid family medical leave per year. NSEA wants to boost the leave to six weeks with teachers and school districts sharing the cost.
Royers said teachers would pay a "modest payroll fee or tax." Their district would match teachers’ contributions, and that would feed about $40 per month per teacher into a fund to cover expenses of six weeks of family leave. “Given the radical increase in unfilled teacher positions, there needs to be a bold commitment to teachers,” Royers said.
He believes that boosting family medical leave could be a game-changer because the 10-day cap puts teachers in a difficult position. For example, some teachers delay having children because 10 days is not enough time to tend to and adjust to life with newborns. “No one should have to factor their major decisions into family leave,” Royers said.
“Everywhere I’ve gone teachers said this would be life-changing and it would allow us to recruit from neighboring states.” The NSEA is encouraged that voters supported public school teachers’ opposition to Nebraska’s school choice law and defeated it on Nov. 5.
Royers said the Legislature will be the next battleground as teachers fight for their family leave proposal. Royers expects it will be difficult convincing lawmakers to support such a bold idea. “Teachers don’t really feel like the state cares about them.
Do you think lawmakers care about teachers when they craft policy?” Royers said. Download the new Journal Star News Mobile App Top Journal Star photos for December 2024 Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth unrolls a round bale on Wednesday, Dec.
18, 2024, in Plymouth. Sinclair Hille principal David Quade (left) and senior associate Kjersten Tucker lead a tour of a new University of Nebraska-Lincoln music building on Dec. 16.
With the new building's design, the Lincoln architecture firm has sought to push the boundaries of what musical education looks like in higher education. Sign language interpreters Davida Schejbal (left) and Ashten Schuler pose for a portrait while making the sign "interpreter." The two are mother and daughter.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln sophomore geography major Maxwell Anderson, also known as Jersey Guy, has gone viral for wearing a different jersey to his class every day, Anderson says he has around 100 different jerseys. Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez (right) pancake-digs a ball during the fourth set of a third round NCAA tournament match against Dayton on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Homeless man "Papa" George arranges his tent at a north Lincoln camp site, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Lincoln. Kiptara Thomas (back center), Grace Taylor (front center), and Ayla Brosman (right) prepare in the dressing room ahead of a dress rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" on Thursday at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.
Nebraska's Brice Williams (left) dances with Juwan Gary after the Huskers' win against Indiana on Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Allie Christianson (top right), a senior community organizer with Civic Nebraska, speaks during an event Thursday at NeighborWorks Lincoln's office formally kicking off an initiative to ban source-of-income discrimination for renters. Ariana Cunningham, playing Clara (right), practices dancing backstage during a rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Thursday.
Wisconsin's CC Crawford (left) celebrates a kill by Sarah Franklin (13) during the first set of a third round NCAA tournament match against Texas A&M on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center. Norris' Evan Greenfield (22) scores a layup as Wahoo's Jase Kaminski (13) goes up to defend the basket in the second half on Tuesday, Dec.
10, 2024, at Wahoo High School. Ruby Augustine blows out the candles on her birthday cake during her 105th birthday party on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Legacy Retirement Community.
Cicely Wardyn of Lincoln adjusts an outdoor heater next to a Nativity scene during the Hometown Christmas event Sunday at the Governor's Mansion. Eddie Walters, dressed as the Grinch, leads the pack of runners along the Billy Wolff trail during the Santa Fun Run on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
Nebraska plays against Florida A&M in an NCAA tournament game on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Fourth grade student Lulu Kulwick carries her review worksheet to meet with her teacher during computer science class.
Each student was asked to analyze how fun, challenging and easy to understand each game was, and discuss what they thought was a good aspect to the game, and what could use some work. Ben Heppner is illuminated by morning light as he waits for the start of the Santa Fun Run on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, inside the Fleet Feet store.
Nebraska head coach Amy Williams (left) and Callin Hake (14) cheer for their team after a defensive stop during the third quarter of the game against Minnesota on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Members of the Lincoln Journal Star's 2024 Super State volleyball team compete in Dance Dance Revolution and air hockey while at a photo shoot on Wednesday, Dec.
4, 2024, at Round 1 Arcade. Lincoln North Star's J'Shawn Afun (10) and Mekhi Wayne-Browne (11) battle Lincoln Southeast's Jaydee Dongrin (21) for a rebound in the first half on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Lincoln Southeast High School.
Miami's Flormarie Heredia Colon (left) and Ashley Carr celebrate a point against South Dakota State during an NCAA first-round match, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center. Workers pull up the Capitol Christmas tree on Monday at the Capitol.
The 22-foot Colorado spruce from Walton was selected by the Office of the Capitol Commission to be this year’s annual Christmas tree. Jenni Watson helps to arrange chairs for New Covenant Community Church's first service in their repaired main auditorium on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at New Covenant Community Church.
New Covenant Community Church is nearing completion of six months of reconstruction project after a fire in May damages the church. While the building was not fully consumed by fire, there was significant water damage to the main auditorium and the first floor south wing. Jack, the dog, lifts his leg on the Christmas tree that his owners David and Karen Petersen of Hickman chose as Max Novak helps them on Saturday at Prairie Woods tree farm in Hallam.
Iowa's Drew Stevens (18) kicks a game-winning field goal through the arms of Nebraska's Ty Robinson (9) and Nash Hutmacher (0) on Friday at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Lincoln Northwest senior Kynzee McFadden (top right) works with her teammates as they compete in an identifying game on the Anatomage Table on Tuesday at Lincoln Northwest High School. An Anatomage Table is a digital platform that allows students to perform virtual experiments on a life-size touchscreen.
The table is a tool that provides an interactive view of the human body, allowing students to virtually work with different body parts. Dahlia Brandon of Lincoln tickles her 15-month-old daughter, Gema, with a stuffed animal while shopping at HobbyTown on Saturday. The toy and game store nearly doubled its sales on Black Friday from last year.
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (left) and South Dakota's Max Burchill (3) reach for the ball during the first half of the game on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!.
