Re: “Public schools go overseas to hire teachers, other staff” (TNT, 6-29).

In this time of sky-high unemployment, it does not make much sense for schools in Washington state to look outside the country to recruit teachers.

This is particularly baffling when there are talented experts in fields such as math and science throughout the state who are willing to consider careers as educators.

The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence teaching certification program is already accepted in nine other states, allowing us to help districts fill teaching positions with talented individuals from the local market at no cost to the district or the state. In addition, we have a teacher retention rate of 85 percent after three years; 95 percent of principals rated ABCTE’s rigorously tested teachers to be as effective, or more effective, than their peers.

Before letting more teaching jobs be filled from overseas, I urge state leaders to take a closer look at programs like ours that would help school districts address their staffing needs and stimulate the local economy at the same time. (Saba is president of ABCTE, a nonprofit organization funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.)