SCHOOL STAFFING SHORTAGES How the pandemic created a shortage of teachers. CAROLINE CHENG
T writer
he pandemic has made the challenges of school staffing shortages more significant than ever, forcing schools to plan how to overcome the long-lasting impacts. In one survey of 2,690 members of the National Education Association, 32% said the pandemic prompted teachers to plan to leave the profession earlier than expected. Consequently, schools are trying to fill in these spots with substitute teachers, but there is a shortage of them as well.
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In the Cupertino Union School Dis- teachers every year. In 2020-21, it istrict (CUSD), a shortage of substitutes sued about 47,000 substitute teachmeans that certificated school ad- ing permits compared to the 64,000 ministrators or district staff are sub- issued in the 2018-19 school year. bing when there are no substitutes to In the meantime, Cupertino High cover teachers’ classrooms. These School, part of the Fremont Union High last minute substituting shifts make it School District (FUHSD), has also rechallenging for administrators to com- lied on other staff members to cover plete their daily tasks as well. for teachNonetheless, the district’s stuers even dents have always been able before the MONEY WILL NOT to attend school with a qualiBE THE ONLY SOLUTION pandemic, fied staff member or TO THE HIGH DEMAND OF so for some substitute when their teachers, SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS substituting teacher is away. IF THERE ARE INSUFFI “Our first priorifor others is ty is always rather norCIENT RESOURCES. ensuring that stumal. dents have teach “It’s ers in the classroom, to pretty common, I think, in our district support them and to to first reach out internally, to see if have learning continue, there are other teachers who even when their teach- can cover your period, er is out,” said Erin because a lot of times Lindsey, the Director a teacher might be last of Communications minute absent, and it’s for CUSD. just one period they’re Even be- going to miss. [...] And fore the pandemic, that’s just more stanCUSD and other dard practice, school districts because it’s were already see- easier to find ing a decrease c o v e r a g e , ” in the number of said Laurie Luavailable substi- catero, Spanish tutes. According teacher at Cuperto the California tino High School. C o m m i s s i o n Despite the necon Teacher essary change in their Credentialing, plans to take immediate California has action to substitute for a faced de- class, many teachers at clining num- Cupertino High School are bers of new flexible and willing to support s u b s t i t u t e each other. Teachers have also
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