Teachers and principals are twice as stressed out as the rest of the workforce, with well-being especially poor among Hispanic, female and mid-career teachers.
The stats contributing to teacher shortages are glaring: the average teacher salary is so low in 38 states that even some mid-career educators qualify for government benefits based on income.
A large majority of teachers in one western state say they would quit if they could. But elsewhere, a much smaller percentage of educators are thinking about leaving the profession.
Districts spent the first two rounds of ESSER funding quickly on immediate safety and technology needs. Now, administrators are now being more deliberate and strategic
While the safety of educators and students is a concern that plays a part in teacher recruiting and retention, several other factors related to teacher recruitment and compensation need to be addressed, experts say.
Districts are awash in COVID relief funding but the inflation fueled by the pandemic means the power of teacher salaries has declined over the past 10 years.
A message to K-12 leaders who are worried about sharing a shrinking pool of teachers with other districts: some states and school systems are giving out historic salary increases.
Nathan Roberts is a substitute, but unlike the other subs–many of them parent volunteers or people looking for a little extra work–he’s a full-time, salaried employee with health benefits and a long-term contract.
