Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Tonya Papanikolas ReportingLast night we showed you how many teachers are leaving Utah for better salaries in other Western states.
Teachers who have left told us it could take more than a pay raise to bring them back.
All the teachers we interviewed said they get a lot more resources and support in out-of-state schools. They have strong feelings that Utah simply doesn't stack up.
To teach his students computer science, Michael Jensen needs up-to-date computers in his classroom. In Las Vegas, he has them.
Michael Jensen, Computer Science Teacher: "I'm able to get a lot of newer equipment, a lot of state-of-the-art stuff to help out in teaching my classes."
In Cheyenne, many schools have portable laptop computer labs. And classes get to use what they call a Smart Board.
Tami Britt, Math Teacher: "Students get really bored by watching people write on a white board or chalkboard. Some students don't learn that way. They need the visual aids."
So how do Utah classes compare?
Ray Timothy, Utah Deputy Superintendent of Education: "At one point, Utah was number one in the nation in access to technology. We are now rock bottom. We are number 51."
But to many educators, technology isn't as important as being able to give students personalized attention.
Tami Britt: "When you have a class with fewer students, it is much easier to be able to monitor them, see what's going on."
Tami Britt says most of her classes in Wyoming have under 20 students.
In Colorado, the student to teacher ratio is 17. Idaho's and Arizona's are 18, and Utah's is over 22. But many teachers in larger Utah cities are instructing over 30 students at a time.
Lynn Sorensen, Former Utah Student Teacher: "When I tell people up here that in my student teaching I had five classes that averaged 35 students apiece, they are shocked."
After her student teaching in Utah, Lynn Sorenson moved to Wyoming, where she was hired to keep teachers up to date on research and curriculum.
Lynn Sorenson: "They give us so much training."
Sorenson says if Utah wants to give its students a better education, the state needs to commit more resources to schools.
Lynn Sorenson: "Until they can do that, they're going to continue losing teachers."
Tami Britt: "In the long run, it is the students who suffer."
Utah's Department of Education told us that Utah schools are known for doing a good job with the resources they have, but more would help meet the needs of the students.
