By JC Bowman
Everyone keeps talking about the teacher shortage. Let’s call it what it really is: a crisis of creativity, a perfect storm of bureaucracy, and a system that seems intent on making teaching about as appealing as a root canal.
The pipeline is drying up, and it’s no wonder. Fewer people are choosing teaching as a profession, and honestly, who could blame them? We have managed to suck the joy out of the job and pile on a workload that is nearly impossible for any mortal to complete.
Enrollment in teacher preparation programs has plummeted nearly 50% over the past decade, according to federal data. That’s not just a trend; it’s a full-blown crisis. Many universities are shrinking or shuttering their programs altogether, like a sad magician who can no longer pull rabbits out of hats.
And let’s talk about the teachers already in the trenches. They’re leaving in droves, and it’s not because they suddenly discovered a passion for interpretive dance. According to the Economic Policy Institute, teachers earn about 27% less than their college-educated peers. That’s right, folks—after years of study, the reward for shaping young minds is a paycheck that feels more like a participation trophy than a salary.
Meanwhile, schools are doling out $8–10 billion annually just to replace teachers who leave for greener pastures. That’s $10 billion! Not for student resources, not for innovative programs, but for turnover. Picture that money as a giant, flaming dollar sign careening off into the sunset while classrooms go wanting.
Currently, about 1 in 8 teaching positions in the United States is either vacant or filled by someone not fully certified. That’s like hiring a mechanic who’s only ever worked on bicycles to fix your car. How do we expect students to thrive when their teachers are either MIA or not up to speed?
The pipeline is shrinking, experienced teachers are walking away, and fewer young people are choosing this noble profession. Why would anyone go into teaching, racking up student loans only to pay more to student teach? It’s like signing up to be a fireman only to find out you have to pay for the truck and the firehose.
We need to get serious about this. One way to start is by helping defray student teaching costs, which is an idea Speaker Sexton has suggested and we have long advocated.
Additionally, let’s pay student teachers a stipend. After all, they are not just putting in time; they are investing in our future.
But that’s not all. Expanding teacher pipelines must go hand-in-hand with a strong curriculum. Curriculum coherence can protect students from the dizzying inconsistencies that make learning feel like a game of hopscotch—with no clear path in sight.
Coaching and fidelity monitoring should matter. Alternative pathways need to include mandatory training in instructional delivery and ongoing coaching. Flexibility without support is like a boat without a paddle—good luck going anywhere.
It’s not complicated. If we want great teachers, we need to pay them like professionals and treat them like professionals. Otherwise, we’ll be left with a teaching landscape that resembles a ghost town.
Because when great teachers disappear, the consequences don’t stay confined to classrooms. They ripple out into society, creating a world where mediocrity becomes the norm. And let’s face it—nobody wants to live in a world where “good enough” is the gold standard.
So let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work. The future of education—and society—depends on it.
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JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author and the association are properly cited. For more information on this subject or any education issue please contact Professional Educators of Tennessee. To schedule an interview please contact info@proedtn.org or 1-800-471-4867.
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