(WPRI) — Teacher shortages nationwide have been making headlines since the pandemic, but school districts across Rhode Island feel strong going into the new year.

Many superintendents say they have the staff they need to educate the students they have.

“We are starting our school year fully staffed,” Smithfield Superintendent Dawn Bartz said. “We have all our teachers, we have all our paraprofessionals and our secretaries.”

“We are pretty much fully staffed and ready to go,” North Providence Superintendent Joseph Goho said. “As we get further and further away from the pandemic we’re noticing a deeper pool of candidates.”

But according to a recent Brown University report, the pandemic only accelerated the problem of teacher shortages that was first detected in 2016.

The U.S. Department of Education defines a teacher shortage in three ways: unfilled positions, positions filled by those with temporary or emergency certification, and teachers taking jobs they are not qualified for.

“You may get applicants but it’s really bringing in the right candidate, especially for those jobs,” Lincoln Superintendent Dr. Lawrence Filipelli said. “We have secured [math, science and multi-language] positions, but it took quite a bit over the summer to bring in the right candidate.”

Jobs like those make up the majority of vacancies in Providence which, at last check, was in the greatest need with a little more than 100 open positions.

“We’re going to keep going until the first day of school and past that if we need to,” Providence Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez said.

The district is even offering incentives — $10,000 signing bonuses to special education teachers .

“The goal is to make sure every classroom is full with a fully certified educator,” Montañez said.

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