As classes resume across North Texas, school administrators are once again grappling with a persistent annual challenge: filling classroom teacher vacancies.
To meet the demand, many districts are increasingly relying on uncertified educators, according to the Texas State Teachers Association. Uncertified teachers now account for a significantly higher percentage of new hires compared to five years ago.
David Ring, vice president of the association, said compensation remains a central piece of the retention and hiring puzzle.
Although the Texas Legislature recently approved teacher pay raises ranging between $3,000 and $7,000, Ring noted that Texas educator salaries still lag behind the national average by roughly $10,000.
