America Is Desperate for Substitute Teachers

When Omicron started spreading, America’s schools were already understaffed. Since the start of the pandemic, teachers across the country have retired early or quit for other professions, exacerbating a long-standing substitute and teacher shortage. Now increased absences have pushed the situation to a breaking point: There simply aren’t enough substitutes.

Desperate school systems are and lowering requirements; in Kansas, for example, is eligible to apply to sub. Administrators are and to consider the role. Overworked teachers are being asked to monitor classrooms during their lunch breaks and conference periods, which many use for grading, lesson planning, and meetings to track the progress, , , and are being called away from their standard duties. New Mexico has to think about stepping in, and Oklahoma has offered openings to .