Teacher Shortages by Vanessa Peluso

Reacting to Teacher Burnout

vpeluso4 — 2025-09-04 16:57:11 UTC

The first teacher who spoke was addressing how kids aren't used to hearing no at home because their parents don't parent them, so when they are at school they do not behave. She explains how it was her hardest year because the kids gave her so much trouble and how the parents don't offer any support or sympathize with the teachers at all. She gave an example of when one of her students punched her repeatedly and their parent said "well what did you do to upset them". It's almost as if schools have turned more into babysitting and not education, and due to this teachers are extremely frustrated with misbehaving students and are struggling to find desire to stay. The other teachers that stood out to me spoke about the same issues of parents not parenting but then on top of that, having issues with administration and them not providing any support.

The Gap between Teachers pay and Inflation

vpeluso4 — 2025-09-05 14:58:14 UTC

This shows how 2003-2004 was the starting point before inflation grew, as it is equal with the pay. Over time the gap between pay and inflation started to widen and in 2023-2024 it shows a $10,000 difference. Starting teacher salaries haven't risen fast enough to match and keep up with inflation. Teachers not being paid enough plays a huge role into why shortages and strikes are happening.

Low Pay ---> Strikes

vpeluso4 — 2025-09-08 18:52:08 UTC

This picture shows the signs that teachers held to protest during a strike. "Teachers deserve fair pay because students deserve teachers who stay" and "On strike for our students". Statistically teachers make 20% less than their peers. These emphasize the connection between teachers not getting paid enough and teacher retention, with teacher strikes. As it is a cause and effect relationship. It also shows how keeping the teachers in the classroom benefits the students because, essentially teachers leaving affects the students and their quality of education.

Administration Adding to Teacher Burnout

vpeluso4 — 2025-09-09 14:59:41 UTC

This article explains teacher burnout as demoralization. Meaning how the systemic issues of administrative support, excessive workload, toxic policy demands, and disrespect from families seem to be the root cause of teachers exhaustion. The teachers express how they don't get treated with respect from their administrators, and how they are underpayed and undervalued; this connects to the youtube video of teachers complaining about the lack of support from them. The article explains how administration often sides with the parents rather than teachers when a problem arises. How they micromanage teachers and pile on new ways to teach, strict rules, and evaluations which takes away the freedom of teachers to get creative with their teaching. It also explains how the administrators often puts extra duties onto teachers and expects them to fulfill them with no additional pay. Overall, it just emphasizes how administrators don't treat the teachers well and don't advocate for them. This has a major effect on teachers and is one of the main causes for burnout, strikes, and shortages.

vpeluso4 — 2025-09-10 14:06:30 UTC

Solutions to Teacher Shortages

vpeluso4 — 2025-09-10 14:30:09 UTC

California invested $1 billion in developing scholarships and residency programs to support teachers. The teacher residencies set up potential teachers to co-teach for a year and commit to stay in the district for 3 years. Due to this, 90% of the residents get hired and 85% are still teaching 3 years later. In 2022 Mississippi raised teacher salaries by 12% and this led to a boost in enrollment for teacher prep programs by 20%, and they offer bonuses of $6,000 per year for National Board certified teachers. They also created a loan repayment program for teachers, and a residency program for special education as well. New York invested in mentorship programs for first year teachers. The Albert Shanker Grant Program, which helps with certification costs. They also promote diversity and more programs that have $20-25M in incentives. Lastly Texas created a Teacher Vacancy Task Force to fix shortages and provide better training, and work conditions. They also launched residency programs, using $100M from federal funds. Overall, common solutions are raising salaries, providing mentorships, and offering financial incentives.

vpeluso4 — 2025-09-10 15:03:14 UTC

This connects to the administrators giving the teachers so many new orders, rules, and ways of teaching and not being supportive or implementing incentives.

vpeluso4 — 2025-09-10 15:13:39 UTC