As nationwide teacher shortage deepens, rural ND school relies on international recruits

GLEN ULLIN, N.D. (KFYR) - Nationwide, public schools are facing teacher shortages as kids return to classrooms. This is becoming more and more apparent in rural North Dakota.

Glen Ullin, N.D., boasts a population of around 700—small by most standards— yet big enough to need a public school, but too small to attract enough employees to staff it. Even some who work there admit to a long commute, but that only fuels their devotion to their 137 students.

“It is uplifting coming here every day, I travel 40 minutes a day to get here, and that’s Monday through Friday, and right now, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Cami Krueger, the school counselor.

Krueger said that while many of her colleagues share her dedication, the school has had trouble recruiting the number of staff needed.

Superintendent Martin Bratrud said the problem is growing steadily worse.

“It’s actually been coming slowly, like a wave, for about 10 to 15 years. We’ve really seen it exacerbated. You know, after Covid, that less and less high school students were moving into the teaching profession through the colleges, and that is coming to a head right now,” said Bratrud.

Glen Ullin’s school is not alone. The State’s Education Standards and Practices Board, which oversees the licensure of educators, declared all content teaching areas as having a critical shortage of workers for this school year.

So far, the school has been reliant on teachers who have international backgrounds and have immigrated from other countries. The school has been able to recruit four from the Philippines and one from South Africa.

Bratrud said they have been a lifeline for the school, meeting all the state’s licensing requirements.

Krueger and Bratrud emphasize that the most rewarding part about working for a small community is knowing every member intimately.

Because of the shortages, teachers weren’t able to take time off to do an interview. Many teachers at this school have multiple jobs as well.

The school is still short two teachers. As a result, they’ve had to combine kindergarten and first grade, and the second and third grades.