KEARNEY, Neb.— The issues contributing to Nebraska's teacher shortage are among the focuses at the state's teachers union conference.

The Nebraska State Education Association is hosting the annual event Tuesday and Wednesday at Kearney High School. Union leaders hope educators will learn basics to improve their classrooms, negotiation tactics, and ways to avoid feeling overwhelmed as schools face a shortage of teachers.

Board member Kathy Poehling says the organization is examining teacher salaries.

"My local is going to be going into bargaining for the common good this fall, which is the first time it's been done in Nebraska," said Poehling. "So not only looking at pay, insurance and benefits but looking at our student population and our proposals that we're starting to look at with a racial social justice lens."

A 2021 NSEA survey revealed that 88% of members said their districts have a support staff shortage and 97% said their district is experiencing a substitute teacher shortage.

NSEA President Tim Royers hopes to grow the numbers of teachers by retaining educators and recruiting people who left the field.

"There are hundreds of educators right now who are not actively teaching but have an active certificate," said Royers. "So, if we were able to figure out what caused them to leave and alleviate those concerns, we're highly likely to gain a number of them back."

Royers hopes the conference will allow teachers across the state to build connections, learn helpful tools and become a resource for each other.