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K-12 Teacher Shortage Impact on Teacher Roles, School Systems, And Outcomes

Date of Award

5-2025

Culminating Project Type

Starred Paper

Styleguide

apa

Degree Name

Specialist Certificate

Department

Educational Administration and Higher Education

College

School of Education

First Advisor

Dr. Frances Kayona

Second Advisor

Dr. Jennifer Christensen

Third Advisor

Dr. Steven Emerson

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Keywords and Subject Headings

Teacher Shortage Impact Schools Teachers Students

Abstract

The public K-12 education system is facing a critical teacher shortage across elementary, middle, and high school levels (Nguyen et al., 2024). While workforce shortages have impacted multiple sectors in the wake of COVID-19, the effects are particularly severe in education (Bacher-Hicks et al., 2023). Teacher shortages are not new, but the increasing complexity of K-12 education and the rising social-emotional demands of both educators and students have intensified their consequences (Dreer, 2023). Many educators, particularly in special education, report heightened stress and burnout, leading them to reconsider their commitment to the profession. This is especially alarming given the already critical shortage of teachers (Garcia et al., 2022). This starred paper examines the current teacher shortage through a review of literature, focusing on three key areas: (1) factors contributing to the shortage, (2) its impact on teacher roles and instructional practices, and (3) the effects of stress and burnout on teacher retention and attrition post-COVID. Understanding these challenges is crucial for developing policies and interventions that support educators and sustain the public education system.

Comments/Acknowledgements

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Frances Kayona for her unwavering support in helping me complete my culminating project. Her encouragement, guidance, and dedication have been invaluable, continually pushing me forward in my academic and professional endeavors.

I also sincerely thank my committee members, Dr. Jennifer Christensen and Dr. Steven Emerson, for their patience, support, and invaluable feedback throughout this process. Their guidance and understanding have been instrumental in helping me navigate this journey, and I truly appreciate their commitment to my success.

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