Atlanta's education system faces a dire teacher shortage, with hundreds of positions remaining unfilled across the metro area, Atlanta News First reports. As school districts grapple with the lack of educators, the economic reality for those in the profession grows increasingly stark. The National Education Association (NEA) has revealed a troubling decline in educators' pay, asserting that "Teachers are making $3,644 less than they did 10 years ago, adjusted for inflation."
Danielle Cummings, a teacher with nearly a decade of experience, has felt the financial squeeze first-hand, stating her passion for teaching is being tested against economic pressures. Wearing multiple hats to stay afloat, she now drives for Uber and Lyft and does photography on the side. "It's just necessary in this economy," Cummings told Atlanta News First. "As a teacher, we're still waiting on the end of the month and the 15th and that's a constant thought."
According to data reviewed by Atlanta News First Investigates, Clayton County has the highest number of vacancies in the region, with 178 educator positions unfulfilled, followed by DeKalb County with 120. This shortage persists despite Georgia implementing an 8 percent pay raise for teachers in 2020, which was the largest increase in the state's history after a stagnation in state pay raises from 2015-2019.
U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona recently addressed the teacher shortage on a national scale, linking the issue to a broader lack of respect for the teaching profession. During a 'Power Up' summit in South Carolina, financed by driving for ride-sharing apps and working in food service, Cardona emphasized the urgency of showing respect to retain educators within the field. "We need to show respect to our teachers, so we can keep our teachers," Cardona highlighted in a statement echoed by Black Enterprise.
While the pandemic decimated the education labor market, losing over 700,000 public education jobs, help appears to be on the horizon. States are beginning to see support flow in through funds such as The American Rescue Plan and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, which are dedicated to mitigating the teacher shortage crisis. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is poised to sign a state budget increasing teacher pay by $2,500 per year, which is poised to take effect this July, as further efforts to alleviate the strain on educators.
