Almost 3 out of 5 Illinois teachers are considering leaving profession: IEA study

ILLINOIS (WCIA) — State education leaders are flagging a recent survey showing more teachers are considering leaving their jobs and classrooms.

The Illinois Education Association released the results to a membership poll Wednesday. From surveying 500 active members of the association in June, 59% of teachers, professors in higher education and support staff have considered leaving the industry.

“This data should set off massive alarm bells for parents, students and community members. We are in a dire situation with teacher and support staff shortages,” IEA President Al Llorens said in a news release. “We know districts cannot attract and retain enough talented adults to work with our students.”

The high rate of burnout is on top of a shortage of teachers and support staff across the nation. More than 4,000 positions were left unfilled across the state for the 2023-2024 school year, according to a report by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools.

Their survey also found 94% of IEA members work additional hours outside their contractual workday and 97% spend their own money on supplies for their students and classrooms. One in four educators reported they’ve spent at least $500 on things like pencils, furniture and hygiene products.

The survey found the top three reasons for leaving teaching are not earning enough money and a lack of profession (tied at 65%) and an increasing workload (62%).

“Just think about that for a second,” Llorens said. “Would you want to pour your heart and soul into a job where you’re not appreciated and constantly being asked to do more for less money? Probably not.”

In addition to spending their own money on classroom supplies, many face more stressors. A quarter of all IEA report having an extra job, and also one out of four are paying off their student loans.

Those financial factors more often affect the educators of color. Of the educators with debt, 39% are white and 53% are people of color. 41% of teachers with an additional job are white, compared to 53% of people of color.

The IEA said change is needed to retain teachers.

“We need to take a look at this system, make changes and do better,” Llorens said. “Just like we believe all students should have access to an equitable public education, we believe the education profession should be equitable for all educators.”

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