Oklahoma Schools Rush to Fill Teaching Gaps Before Students Return

Preparing for the New School Year

As summer comes to a close, students across the region are preparing to return to classrooms. With just a few weeks left before school starts, districts are working diligently to ensure they have enough teachers and staff in place. KOCO 5 reached out to several districts in the metro area to understand their hiring processes and current status.

Many of these districts reported that they are in a better position this year compared to previous years, but there are still vacancies to fill before the start of the school year in August.

Vacancy Numbers Vary Across Districts

Norman Public Schools mentioned that their numbers are similar to previous years, with 24 teaching vacancies, slightly more than the 23 they had last year at this time. Oklahoma City Public Schools, on the other hand, has 77 total vacancies, including 46 classroom positions and 23 special education roles.

Yukon Public Schools noted an improvement in teacher retention, with only two teaching positions open. Deer Creek also reported a strong position, having just two teacher vacancies and four support staff openings. Edmond Public Schools saw a slight improvement as well, reducing its usual 20 to 30 teacher vacancies to 14 this year. Of those, six are in elementary schools, one in a middle school, and six in high schools, with one additional district-wide role available.

Shift in Teacher Certifications

While each district works to finalize their hiring plans, a significant change has been observed in the number of emergency-certified teachers. These teachers step in during emergencies, such as sudden teacher shortages.

Yukon Public Schools noted that instead of relying on emergency certifications, they are seeing more fully certified teacher applications. In 2024, Norman Public Schools had 124 emergency-certified teachers, which dropped to 78 last year and now stands at 50 for the current school year.

At Oklahoma City Public Schools, out of the 2,200 teachers, approximately 379 are emergency certified. Deer Creek has 15 emergency-certified teachers, and Yukon reports that 46 of its 685 employees are emergency-certified.

Additional News Highlights

In other news, Bar K announced the sudden closure of its Oklahoma City location. Victims of a recent shooting in New York City include a police officer and an executive from an investment firm. A victim is in critical condition after a stabbing at an Edmond hotel, according to police. Details about the Midtown Manhattan gunman and the events leading up to the shooting are being investigated. A suspect was apprehended after stealing an Amazon delivery driver’s vehicle, leading to a police chase.

For more updates, stay tuned to KOCO 5 for the day’s top news, weather, and sports coverage from Oklahoma City and throughout the state. The KOCO 5 App and YouTube channel provide additional ways to stay informed.