CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Many teachers preparing lessons this year for the fall may not be back in those classrooms next year. That’s the reality of the current climate of education as districts reel with the teacher shortage years after the pandemic. It’s a profession that’s seen more pressure, less funding and an increased workload.
School districts across America are trying to incentivize in any way they can, while some educators still weigh the questions: where’s the money and is it all still worth it?
"The national teacher shortage is very concerning and it is a crisis," Andrew Houlihan, Superintendent of Union County Public Schools, told WCNC Charlotte.
Years after the COVID pandemic, school districts like Union County have instituted many pipelines to get more teachers back in their classrooms.
"What was once a pool, is now a puddle," Houlihan said. "We have found some strategies that seem to be paying off. But, its really hard and we've had to step up our game. We're not just competing against North Carolina schools but also now South Carolina. They've bumped teacher pay."
Superintendent Dr. Andrew Houlihan says it hasn’t been enough. As some states invest in teacher salaries while others lag behind, its become extremely competitive to reel in the best educators.
Author of Education is Freedom – and the former CEO of Blockbuster and Seven-eleven – James Keyes says those teachers that are left are caught between their passion and pressure.
"They have been caught in the crossfire of a tremendous amount of pressure from parents, from school boards and legislators," Keyes said. "Our teachers are being accused of indoctrination and teaching bad things. They're being called communists and fascists', and their getting it on both sides."
He adds that its no surprise that after the pandemic shined a light on many gaps in the system – people started to ask questions.
"These teachers don’t make much money, they’re making less than they were 10 years ago on an inflation adjusted basis, they are as important as our military," Keyes explained.
He believes that the system needs an overhaul, explaining that much of the curriculum hasn’t changed in over 100 years. If you give teachers, the tools technology and support, Keyes feels those glaring gaps can slowly go away.
Within the last month, we sat down with CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill, who explained that teacher pay is in the hands of the North Carolina legislature. She says that district and Mecklenburg County leaders will continue to push for raising teacher pay.