Teacher Supply and Demand: Issues in Northern Canada

Abstract

This two‐year study (2007‐2009), which examined teacher supply and demand issues in northern Canada – Fort Nelson School District (BC), the Fort Vermilion School Division (AB), the Yukon Department of Education (YK), and the Yellowknife School District (NWT) – comprised three research objectives: (a) to ascertain in which subject areas acute and chronic needs for teachers existed, (b) to investigate recruitment and retention methods for northern professionals, and (c) to ascertain preferred professional development models. The participants included teachers, principals, and hiring personnel in the research sites. Research methods included the use of an on‐line questionnaire (n = 113), at least two semi‐structured interviews at each of the four sites with five to ten teachers, three to five principals, and one Human Resources personnel, and researcher field notes. Findings confirm and expand upon conclusions drawn by others and demonstrate the unique needs of northern educators. In particular, we found that (a) school districts continue to struggle with finding specialist teachers in
the senior high sciences and mathematics and in elementary Special Education, (b) few incentives exist for teachers to come to northern school districts and to stay there, and (c) the preferred professional development model for approximately one‐quarter of these Northern teachers, administrators, and hiring personnel is blended learning.