Baby Boomers Retire, Edmond Schools Lose 42

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

EDMOND, Oklahoma -- The National Commission on Teaching and America's Future reports more than a million Baby Boom teachers are approaching retirement.

In Oklahoma, 46 percent of teachers are over the age of 50, making for a record setting retirement this year at Edmond Public Schools.

Forty-two employees will say goodbye at the end of the school year, 29 of them leaving are classroom teachers.

Learn more about the retirement of the Baby Boomer generation and how it could impact education.

Director of Personnel Randy Decker said it will mean losing 811 years of experience and 1,101 years of total service.

"The first is age, much of the staff are baby boomers. The second, it's a hard job and Oklahoma is not competitive with our pay scale," said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Brenda Lyons.

Districts in Texas pay one third to 50 percent more than most districts in Oklahoma.

"Our pay is low and they go to other states, especially to Texas," Lyons said.

Lyons said the concerns now go to replacing the first hand knowledge of such experienced staff.

"Recruiting good talent is becoming more difficult. The best and the brightest are heading to nearby states that have higher pay," Lyons said.

She said legislation on Governor Brad Henry's desk could add more stress.

Senate Bill 834 is a bill to deregulate the public school system. Administrators like Lyons say SB 834 may make hiring and retaining talent worse since most teachers oppose it.

"Anything that sends teachers elsewhere is a problem," Lyons said.