In the decade preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, most states saw moderate to more significant drops in students seeking teaching degrees.
Summer months tend to be a time for reflection—the school year has come to a close and the accumulation of the academic year’s trials and stresses can be looked at more objectively.
There are several reasons why a teacher might choose to leave the classroom, but the two most generally cited are burnout and inequitable earnings.
When the salaries are adjusted for inflation, teachers are earning on average $2,179 less per year than they did a decade ago.