Thousands of public school teachers will get pay increases of $7,000 to $26,000 per year, which is helping to keep some instructors from leaving the profession. Nevertheless, the Hawaii State Teachers’ Association anticipates a severe shortage of educators this academic year.
Although the official figures from the Department of Education won’t be revealed until October, HSTA President Osa Tui Jr. still believes the need for new educators might approach 1,000. The Hawaii State Teachers Association is the voice for the state’s 13,500 educational professionals, the vast majority of whom are teachers.