School staffing has been a hot button topic across the country for years now. The shortage is more prevalent in some areas than others — but between long-standing issues and new trends, the crisis has become more severe and more widespread from state to state.
Brooke Beyma of Tampa, FL is a psychology major with a minor in education and interest in becoming a school psychologist. Below, Brooke Beyma explains the nature of the staffing shortage as well as the impact it could have on the wellbeing of students, teachers, and administrators.
Reasons for the Ongoing School Staffing Crisis
There were several reasons for the school staffing crisis before 2020. First, with low pay that doesn’t keep up with a rising cost of living to teachers being given more responsibilities (without more income), there were good reasons for the general discontentment. And then, of course, there comes the cyclical nature of a staffing crisis.
Brooke Beyma explains that as teachers leave, the remaining teachers must take on more classes with larger amounts of students and extra before and after school activities, which decreases morale. These teachers are then more quickly worn out and quit earlier than anticipated, further worsening the remaining teachers’ situation. At this point, a complete break in the cycle is necessary.
However, relief didn’t come in 2020, and things only got worse for the state of school staffing. Since Covid-19 took hold, the United States has seen a Great Resignation movement, including educators. Teachers are finding ways to make money from home while avoiding the complications of Covid protocols, health anxieties, and strict hours. Unfortunately, this means a severe drop in people willing to fill school positions.
The World of Teaching for Those Still Standing
The school staffing crisis doesn’t just affect hiring managers and the unemployed. The remaining teachers have to pick up all the slack left by other teachers that resigned according to Brooke Beyma of Tampa, FL. In an attempt to continue offering an excellent education to students, teachers are working hard. However, the environment is only getting worse with each teacher that leaves.
For example, students must be divided into fewer groups with fewer teachers. This means much bigger classes of students than in others, leaving more work (both inside and outside the classroom).
Decrease in Education Standards
Students are the first to feel the effects of this crisis. Brooke Beyma says that many children grades K-12 are reporting that there’s been a decrease in the quality of their education since 2020, and the staffing shortage is only making learning harder.
Due to the crisis, teachers’ standards are lowering, particularly for substitutes. For example, Michigan always required substitutes to have some college hours completed. Now, the governor has only required a high school diploma. And this isn’t to mention the full-time teachers are passing tests easily despite a lack of experience.
This affects the students’ education, but it can always seriously damage morale, as staff relies on fellow staff for collaboration and support. Teachers simply make do rather than having the teammates they need to meet goals during the school year.
The Costs of Teaching
Brooke Beyma explains that when discussing the school staffing crisis, many focus the conversation on salary. However, many factors go into the costs and profits of teaching beyond what states report as the average salary. These factors also contribute to the burden placed on teachers during the staffing shortage.
For example, teachers often face high health care premiums and pay even more to cover their dependents. And as health care premiums go up frequently, a one-time salary boost won’t actually meet a family’s needs.
There’s also the fact that each district or school will pay more or less despite average numbers. A teacher could teach the same thing, but her services are worth more across town. Teachers must decide between a longer commute or earning more money.
Also, the emotional toll that teaching takes on its leaders affects the crisis. Teachers generally feel anxious and scared to do their jobs because of the extra pressure to perform despite limited resources and low staffing. But despite them investing so much emotionally, they get very little back on the dollar and are fleeing to new professions as a result according to Brooke Beyma.
Considering The Future of American Education
The future of American education looks bleak due to the staffing shortage. However, the crisis can be improved if institutions implement real changes that affect the everyday educator. Higher salaries that meet the rising inflation, cost of living, and healthcare costs are crucial. Without this, people are unlikely to return to the profession or pursue education at all.
Brooke Beyma of Tampa says that another essential step is less tangible and more complicated: teacher support. Without the support of their districts and principals, teachers won’t feel comfortable doing what needs to be done in the classroom. The constraints currently placed on them with the high and overwhelming atmosphere discourage anyone from entering the classroom as a leader.
Until government and educational institutions affect real changes to the current system, we may not see the school staffing crisis lessen. We can only hope that leaders take a hard look at the facts and start making the necessary changes to get qualified teachers in front of students.
