Jefferson City, Mo (KMOX) - Eighty percent of Missouri teachers say they sometimes, often or very often think about leaving their profession. That's according to a just-released survey conducted by the Missouri State Teachers' Association.
Of the 2,800 certified educators completing the survey, 51% say they often or very often think of quitting. Only 12% never do. 62% say this year has been more stressful than last year. The top reason for increased stress, MSTA Spokesman Todd Fuller says, is student behavior and student motivation.
"It's dealing with students who may not have been in a classroom, or a typical classroom, for over a year," he says. "So, teachers are trying to work those individuals and help them get back into a sense of a day-to-day learning process."
Fuller says because of staffing shortages, teachers are also having to do double duty, "Managing and working with their own classes and then during their prep time, or during their lunch time, they are working with other classes that may not have a teacher in place."
Three-quarters of respondants say their work is quite or extremely meaningful, but only a quarter say they are quite or extremely satisfied in their jobs.
The 80% who say they at least have thought about quitting, is a 20% increase over last year.
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