Baesler indicated that turnover within her department has been nothing out of the ordinary, and that some people retire or move on to different careers. One factor, she said, could be that the department competes with school districts for the same employees.
“It’s hard to stay working at the state when they can make so much more in a public school district,” she said.
Toward the end of the debate, the candidates addressed what each sees as the biggest issue facing education today.
Baesler answered that it’s preparing students “to be agile and to be able to learn about anything.” They need to be ready for 21st century jobs that “don’t even exist yet,” she said.
Dick said he believes high stress among teachers and students is the most pressing issue, something he’s experienced this year as he’s taught a dual-credit college algebra course. Students sometimes don’t appear via video for class because of the pandemic, if they’re in quarantine.
“I never know for…
