A teacher shortage has plagued several districts across Pennsylvania, as the industry struggles to recruit and retain new staff. Chris Lilienthal with teachers union PSSA says, that includes substitute teachers.
A lack of subs means full-time teachers are picking up the slack.
“What happens is that the teacher that are in the building are told, ‘well sorry, you lose your prep period today . . . you lose your lunch period’ you’re literally going to be going from one class to the next, you know, from first thing in the morning until 3 o’clock when school ends,” said Lilienthal.
He says teacher shortages are mostly concentrated to urban and rural districts, as well as STEM subjects.
A recent report found Pittsburgh Public Schools is ahead of the curve.
Experts have been seeing signs of a shortage for the last decade, but recently burnout has forced teachers to look at other options.
He believes districts should look at the American Rescue Plan for help boosting staffing.
“That might mean increasing pay, increasing benefits to be more competitive, particularly when you’re talking paraprofessionals.
He adds there is bipartisan support in the state legislature to address the issue.
Discussions over student debt forgiveness and loosening restrictions for teachers transferring from out of state and for retired teachers to sub.
A Plus schools says there were only 28 new teachers in the district last year.