Anchorage teacher tells school board two behavior staff have quit since September

A Tyson Elementary teacher told the Anchorage School Board on Monday that two members of her school's behavior support team have resigned since she last testified in September, and asked the board what has changed.

"I'm standing here again in November, and I have to ask, what has actually changed since that testimony?" said Harper Kushner, who works in the school's behavior support program.

One of the staffers who left was a newly hired paraeducator, a type of classroom aide, who she said "entered an incredibly demanding environment with very little training." The other was a behavior intervention coach with more than 10 years in the district. She described him as someone who cared about doing things the right way, and said losing him meant losing a decade of experience, relationships and institutional knowledge.

She said she didn't blame either of them for leaving, but that people should be asking why dedicated staff are reaching that point.

Kushner said the problem isn't limited to her school or to classrooms for students with intensive behavior needs. "This is a district-wide concern," she said. "I'm hearing similar concerns from gen ed and resource classrooms."

She urged board members to look at the district's job vacancy listings, which she said should raise questions about recruitment and, more importantly, retention. Educators are expected to handle crises, keep students safe, meet the requirements of students' individualized education programs, talk with families and teach, often without enough time or support, she said.

"We are case managers, crisis counselors, nurses, secretaries, behavior specialists, and whatever, whatever else the day demands," she said.

At a Sept. 15 work session, the district's chief of human resources, Martin Lang, told the board the district has long seen "fewer and fewer candidates available for hard to fill positions in special education." He also pointed to a national teacher shortage.

Facing a $90 million deficit, the board in February approved a budget for this school year that closed three elementary schools and cut more than 500 positions. The district's budget planning materials list special education among the areas affected by reductions.

Kushner said appreciation without action is just words. "Staff do not need another district-wide message telling them how valued they are. They need leadership that demonstrates it through action," she said.

She was the only person to testify during public comment, and no board member responded. Board President Carl Jacobs had opened public comment by noting that members don't answer questions or discuss issues during that time.

Kushner closed her three minutes by saying, "Our students deserve educators who can stay, and our educators deserve a district that gives them a reason to."