This is the fifth in a series of articles showing the impact of the nation's job crisis on the people of the North Country.
Tomorrow: Cut from longtime job, woman looks toward new career.
PLATTSBURGH — Jacqueline Bryant completed graduate school at SUNY Potsdam three years ago with dreams of shaping young minds through history's stories.
But first she needs a job, and though she's applied to the openings she's found, Bryant has yet to land a full-time position.
"I think I've been subbing for six years now," said the 26-year-old Salmon River Central School graduate. "It's discouraging."
Especially with mounting debt, college loans and a new baby.
LAYOFFS LIKELY
Unfortunately, many North Country teaching graduates are in the same position as Bryant, with few job openings and bloated applicant pools.
The problem doesn't appear close to resolving itself, either, as veteran educators stay on longer, largely due to the stock crisis that hit their retirement funds in 2007, and many districts look to downsize their workforce amid the Great Recession.
Salmon River, Tupper Lake, AuSable and Northeastern Clinton Central schools have announced the likelihood of layoffs as they grapple with crippling deficits.
That's distressing news for some, such as Bryant, who has wanted to teach since she was in the sixth grade.
"I had an amazing teacher who taught social studies incredibly well. I had teachers who reached their students and actually wanted to help them and be a part of their lives.
"I have always wanted to help kids, and teaching was a great way to do it."
Now, if she could only do it.
"I have been working for three years to find a teaching job," Bryant said.
She's applied, but the candidate pool is swollen, which appears to be a trend in the area.
AuSable Valley Central School Superintendent Paul Savage said he might receive anywhere from 30 to 60 or more applications, depending on the open teaching position.
About 85 individuals applied for the last elementary teaching opening that Superintendent Kevin Mulligan had at Chazy Central Rural School.
"Our subs have teaching degrees and are subbing while looking," Mulligan said.
TOUGH FOR FAMILY
Bryant works as a substitute teacher, but it's on a day-to-day basis, which means that over one two-week period she could teach 10 days and then less than half that over another two-week period.
A full-time job would provide more reliable income, but subbing introduces her to potential employers, plus she has to put in classroom time due to state-certification requirements.
"But I never know how many days I am going to work," Bryant said.
So she'll have to continue to bide her time.
"It's a hardship. I am in debt, I can't pay off my college loans, and I just had a little girl.
"Thank God for my husband, because I wouldn't be able to do it if I was single.
"But we still live paycheck to paycheck."
FEW JOBS, MORE CUTS
A few years ago, it appeared this would be the prime time for Bryant to pursue a teaching job. As large numbers of Baby Boomers neared retirement age, widespread news reports of a teacher shortage surfaced.
But an ailing market has kept many in the profession longer than expected, while the economic downturn is shrinking the workforce.
About 60,000 school workers were laid off nationwide last year — double the number who lost jobs in 2008 and three times that of 2007, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The total number of public-education jobs declined in 2009 for the first time since 1984.
Plummeting state-tax revenues and high unemployment, both caused by an ailing economy, will mean even more teacher layoffs this year.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan said the situation is exacerbated by the fact that federal stimulus funds, which saved at least 320,000 education jobs last year, are set to run out.
PERSEVERING
"It's very discouraging," said Bryant. "I've put in so many years and effort. It's something I've always wanted to do."
She will near the point where she might try something else, but then she remembers how hard her history teacher worked for his students.
"I like stories," Bryant said. "History is stories made up of real people and real situations that affect how we do things today."
She wants to go beyond the vocabulary words and dates with her students and delve into the stories.
"I want to teach them things that have them reflect on their own lives, issues such as cultural differences, political strains and economic hardships.
"I want to make a difference in their lives, just like the teachers I had."
E-mail Stephen Bartlett at: sbartlett@pressrepublican.com
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