It's time for school districts to recognize that paraprofessionals are already working in apprenticeship programs. The challenge is formalizing the apprenticeship model and providing a pathway to a teaching certificate.

"It's very hard for teachers or any human being to be responsible for the social-emotional health and wellbeing of another person without first attending to themselves," says Barbara Malkas, Massachusetts' 2024 Superintendent of the Year and a certified yoga instructor.

Craig Heath, superintendent of Mentor Public Schools in Ohio, doesn't usually make decisions based on forecasts. He prefers to live in the moment. "I'll be up early…kind of driving around just to see what it's like out there as we make our decision," Heath said.