Western New York is certainly training and exporting teachers across the Country in large numbers and it is true the school districts out of state especially in the south are offering jobs on the spot. Its like a big vacuum moving the educated from Western New York out of here but then again I dont think I can blame them for leaving as there arent an abundance of techaing jobs in WNY with a shrinking population. To stay in Western New York often times means subbing for years before hopefully an opening occurs. The growing areas of the Country offer full time teachers jobs right out of College as whole new schools are opening to cater to the growth. In instances where the job market isnt there I honestly cant blame the students for moving to where work is readily available and its a shame but its true. After you get out of college you are often faced with student loan bills, etc. If the jobs arent where you are unfortunately you have to go and believe me these other states are anxious to grab who they can and take them away.

And another thing... in order to address these problems of losing the educated population, watching Buffalo sons and daughters get whisked away by job opportunities in mass numbers you cannot buy into this concept of "shrinking to greatness". I think you must take a much more pro growth attitude and attempt to build the population to the point where new schools are needed If you dont want to lose these educators then you must provide the growth to support their choosen professions or watch them go away as they have to other states. Route 15, Route 219, I-81 are great funnels of Buffalonians headed south.

heathersmiles I totally agree with you. Prospective employees generally arent appreciated very much or even treated very well within the Buffalo market but they are out of town. I think its because employers in WNY know they have the upper hand and that for teachers the jobs are far and few between with a huge labor pool.