Low wages, lack of respect contribute to teacher shortage: NEA

(WKBN) — As schools let out for the summer and kids enjoy their time outside the classroom, teachers union leaders are working to address what’s causing a “chronic educator shortage.”

National Education Association President Becky Pringle says the problem was made worse by the pandemic and an N.E.A. study found that 55 percent of educators were planning on leaving.

Earlier this month, Pringle said when the N.E.A. asked teachers why — it boiled down to a lack of respect including low wages and the inability to make their own teaching decisions.

“We know that we do not have enough teachers in our classrooms across the country, certainly not there in Ohio and so we know we have a lot of work to do,” Pringle said.

She says that work includes dealing with why teachers are leaving and why students are opting not to enter the profession.

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