Even before the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, teacher shortages were a substantial issue in K-12 schools nationwide. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the number of new university graduates with a bachelor’s degree in education has decreased over the last several decades.
While teaching was once considered a highly desirable profession for recent college graduates, fewer and fewer individuals are pursuing education as a career. In 1970, the Pew Research Center reported that education was the most popular field for undergraduates in the US. However, a 2022 University of Chicago survey revealed that 44% of US adults would not encourage a young individual to enter the K-12 teaching profession–a shocking deviation from the public’s opinion only a few decades before.
Bryan Duke, the interim dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma, said, “When I started my career 32 years ago, we had 50, 60, 100 applications for every position at schools in the metro area. What we see now is schools will post positions and not have even one application.”
COVID-19 and the Mass Exodus of Teachers
Fewer people are interested in the teaching profession for various reasons. “Burnout syndrome,” which refers to increased stress levels over an extended duration of time, was especially ruthless during the pandemic, and early retirements have become increasingly common among K-12 educators.
Educators’ complaints include a shortage of school resources, a heavy workload, stress from dealing with students and their parents, poor working conditions, and concerns about their physical health and safety.
Teachers also face barriers such as stagnant wages and limited opportunities for upward professional growth. According to a report by the Teacher Salary Project, nearly half of the teachers surveyed said their salary was insufficient to keep them in the profession.
Teachers also expressed that they are wary of facilitating controversial ideological and political arguments within classrooms, such as polarizing discussions about climate change, gun violence, critical race theory, standardized testing, LGBTQ+ issues, ableism, and more.
The Challenging Adjustment to the “New Normal”
Educators and therapists were instantaneously challenged with transitioning to remote education when the pandemic began. Such a significant transition to a virtual education program was often frustrating for all parties involved: teachers, administrators, parents, and students, who needed access to the technology required to learn.
For many students, the lack of technological access made it nearly impossible to perform well academically. What resulted was an overwhelmingly negative response to educators’ attempts to teach while adjusting to a virtual platform, which escalated disinterest in the teaching profession and significantly worsened the public perception of educators.
Throughout the pandemic, teachers and educational therapists have felt overwhelmed by the challenge of meeting the needs of students with mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more. Additionally, teachers must now serve in many roles: counselors, nurses, caretakers, therapists, guardians, advocates, and more. As a result, the role and emotional stakes of being a teacher have become more grueling than ever before.
6 Tips to Improve Educator Retention
How do we keep teachers from leaving the workforce? Here are 6 tips to improve educator retention.
- Flexible Schedules: Departments of education and school districts could provide opportunities for teachers to make their schedules more flexible, allowing for hybrid models or co-teaching.
- Mental Health Programs: School administrators could offer mental health programs for educators who feel stressed, burned out, and overworked to learn better coping and stress management skills.
- Work-Life Boundaries: Teachers should set boundaries with students, such as scheduling specified office hours to respond to student questions. For example, teachers can also inform students or parents that they are unavailable after 6:00 PM and will respond to emails the following day.
- Supportive Connections: During times of hardship, teachers should seek support from colleagues, allies, mentors, and friends who can prevent feelings of isolation, empathize with their challenges, and validate their emotions.
- Prioritizing Self-Care: Teachers should sleep for enough hours each night, eat a healthy diet, frequently go outside, and exercise regularly. Journaling and meditation can be especially beneficial for relieving stress or anxiety.
- Exercise Breaks: Teachers should attempt to move their bodies throughout the school day. Setting a timer to remind themselves to get exercise–even if it’s only a five-minute walk–can help teachers stay active if they remain seated for most of the day. Other ways to move their bodies are using a yoga ball as a chair, purchasing a standing desk, or getting an exercise bike.
While it may not be possible to resolve the issue of teacher retention in weeks, months, or even years, the dedicated efforts of administrators and school leaders can – over time – help create optimal school environments for learning, personal growth, intellectual exploration, and self-actualization.
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