NEW PALTZ - With a teacher shortage reaching crisis proportions in some parts of the country, SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher and state Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia visited the region Tuesday to hear what educators had to say.

They said a teacher shortage is looming for New York, but they hope to head off the sort of teacher drought that has plagued states such as California and Florida.

"This is a full-on press to make sure we have great teachers in our classrooms," said Zimpher during a visit to SUNY New Paltz, where she and Elia spoke with deans and directors in the School of Education.

"We have not had openings (in New York) because the people who could have retired actually didn't retire because of the financial situation they were faced with," said Elia.

Lately, New York teachers who are baby boomers have begun to retire, said Zimpher.

The two education bosses recently helped launch a movement called TeachNY to uplift the teaching profession and ensure there are enough high-quality teachers in the pipeline. TeachNY will work with the Department of Labor and the Education Department to find out where the teacher vacancies are and what types of certifications are needed.

According to Elia, enrollment in New York's teacher colleges and teacher preparation programs has become "deflated, down by 40 percent in some cases."

New Paltz's School of Education is among those faced with declining enrollment.

"SUNY New Paltz is following the overall trend for education enrollment in New York state: approximately 30 percent drop in seven years or so," said Sunny Duerr, assistant dean of assessment and accreditation academic, who did an analysis last year.

The tougher teacher-certification tests ordered by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and rolled out in the 2013-14 school year will be reviewed and improved, according to Elia.

The chancellor and the commissioner have endorsed a plan to form 10 regional councils across the state that would recommend improvements to local education.

"Who knows best what's needed in the mid-Hudson Valley than the mid-Hudson Valley?" Zimpher said.

pliu@th-record.com