The teacher shortage has a related corollary with which schools struggle: a substitute teacher shortage.
Schools already short on teachers have difficulties backfilling spots when a teacher is out or leaves midyear. The result is already-stretched teachers sometimes must fill-in for absent teachers during their prep periods.
“There’s a compounded teacher shortage, which is then even made worse by the substitute shortage,” said Andy Shirk, CEO of Educational Services Inc., a firm that contracts with districts to provide substitute services. “So it can be really challenging.”
