For rural school districts like Kewaunee, Superintendent Scott Fritz says they are often trying to find the best person to fill needed roles within their schools.

Earlier this month, Fritz took part in a roundtable discussion with State Superintendent Jill Underly about the challenges of getting more teachers into the classroom. According to the state Department of Public Instruction, nearly one-third of people who complete teacher training never enter the classroom, and nearly half of those who do leave within eight years.

Underly pointed to compensation as a major reason teachers are leaving the profession or taking jobs out of state. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, median teacher compensation has dropped from more than $110,000 in 2010 to approximately $88,000 in 2024, adjusted for inflation.

Fritz says while compensation is part of the equation, it is not the whole story. While the district remains competitive with similar-sized districts, salaries can easily be matched or exceeded by larger school systems.

As a result, Fritz says the hiring pool of candidates with teaching degrees has shrunk in recent years. The district has instead relied on hiring people with professional, real-world experience and supporting them as they work toward a teaching license while employed.

In 2015, Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill creating a temporary teaching license based on experience for vocational education subjects such as agriculture, child services and food services.

Fritz says adjustments to the school funding formula could also help districts, especially those with low revenue limits, secure the funding they need for operations.