Why A Teacher Shortage?

Teachers Dissatisfied With Administration, Students, and Parents

Approximately 10% (14,700) of Florida's public school teachers left their positions last year, contributing to the state's teacher shortage. Teachers who responded to
a survey by the Florida Legislature's Office of Program Policy and Government Accountability say they left their positions for a variety of reasons.

Thirty percent left because they were dissatisfied with work conditions and another 11% wanted to pursue other career opportunities. The main sources of dissatisfaction leading to attrition were school governance, student behavior and parental support, and career opportunities.

Both current and former teachers expressed dissatisfaction with their compensation, and those with advanced degrees or earning lower salaries were most likely to leave. The program office says to address these factors, the Florida Legislature could expand and revise school leadership professional development initiatives, develop a career ladder system for teachers, and require additional behavior management education for teachers.

Hendry and Glades county, in most all years have a shortage of qualified teachers and are forced to hire teachers for classrooms assignments for which they are not licensed. The teachers are supposed to be hired temporarily and "agree" to take additional courses in order to qualify to teach the subject that is out of their area of expertise.