Texas teacher retirements are down, but Texas AFT union warns 3.5% increase in information requests could signal impending exodus

Texas teachers are currently retiring at a lower rate than at this time in 2019, based on a recent staff report delivered to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas Board of Trustees, but requests for information on retirement options have risen slightly.

The number of teachers requesting retirement estimates so far for 2020 is 94,412, compared to 91,213 in fiscal year 2019, according to a press release from the Texas American Federation of Teachers (Texas AFT) union.

Despite the lower number of retirements, the union noted that the 3.5% increase in requests to review retirement options could mean a significant exodus of teachers in response to COVID-19 fears could still happen. The union did not compare the number of current and past retirements in its release.

Chief Benefits Officer Barbie Pearson noted that there can be a lag between two and 12 months between when a teacher leaves the classroom and their retirement is counted in the system, according to the release.

With the Teacher Retirement System, which usually has a staff of 95 counselors, down 24.5 counselors at this time, some calls to the Customer Service Department are currently experiencing wait times exceeding a half hour, according to the release. Pearson said that the agency has difficulty filling the counselor positions, and the department has a high turnover rate.

In addition to requiring specialized training rather than simply being someone who answers the phone, counselors also have to be willing to spend the entire day on the phone, according to the release. 

Due to the staffing shortage, the Customer Service Department has had to make all counselors work mandatory overtime in order to handle call volume, according to the release. However, the department does have 10 counselors in training and expects to fill an additional 15 positions in November.