When Christine Webber* heard that her children's school was facing a substitute teacher shortage, she decided to sign up to fill in herself. With two girls in school full-time, the Albany, NY, mom thought it might be a good fit. The pay was low, but other factors made the role appealing to her. As a parent-teacher organization mom who was on multiple committees, she already knew the school well.
"I'm here all the time anyway," she laughs.
"I might as well get paid for it." Christine is one of many parents across the country stepping up to fill in amid growing teacher shortages. At the start of the 2022-2023 school year, 45% of America's schools were operating with teacher vacancies. According to Chalkbeat, teacher turnover rates are the highest they've been in the past five years, having risen about 2% across the country. This means that in a school with 100 teachers, two more per year quit than in a typical pre-pandemic school year.
This mass exodus from the teaching profession also means that each day about 20% of substitute teacher openings remain vacant. There are perks to subbing, Christine says, such as having a schedule similar to that of her kids, but filling in at their school can burden her with guilt. "I had to make the tough choice one day to take a sub job when my child wanted me to be at the bookfair when she went," she says. "I felt bad that either they needed to find someone else for coverage or my daughter would be disappointed." She chose the bookfair, but the tension between the needs of the school and those of her kids weighs heavily on her. She's not alone: The current teacher shortage is yet another gap in American society being filled by moms.
ASKING TOO MUCH
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Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av Good House Keeping - US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Bring On the Thanks
Embrace the best part of the holidays the chance to share great food with friends and family. Delicious inspiration awaits.
Guide to a Stress-Free DINNER PARTY
This article provides practical tips for hosting a successful dinner party, including planning the menu, setting the scene with decor, and adding thoughtful touches to delight guests. From invitations to finishing details, it covers everything for a memorable event.
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The Mental Health Benefits of Cats - How our feline friends keep our minds purring
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Can Anything Really Firm Your Face? - Countless complexion brands tout skin-tightening solutions like firming skincare products, at-home devices and professional treatments
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Do Men Really Not See The Mess? - The answer might surprise you. Journalist and author Gemma Hartley pulls back the curtain to reveal the invisible forces that drive this all-too-common cause of marital strife.
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BLISTERED BITES
Shishitos are delicious all yearand creepy on Halloween!
DRINK if you DARE
Welcome, vampires, skeletons and zombies: This spiritforward duo may be strong enough to wake the dead.
Have a scary-good HALLOWEN
The spookiest day of the year calls for tricks and treats!
