EDUCATOR RETENTION

The education sector is suffering nationally with countless institutions navigating states of crisis as staff retention plummets and schools cope with implementing immediate remedies to fulfill prolonged staff vacancies that continue to rise. The brunt of this issue affects educators and school staff, who are assuming multiple roles beyond their employment requirements and responsibilities to aid and sustain their school’s overall functionality. The education sector at large is reportedly experiencing a “shortage” in educators and supporting staff with several districts nationwide incapable of securing and retaining staff. This problem deeply exhausts resources and depletes existing educators and supporting staff who remain employed. We are seeing schools combining classrooms with upwards of 40-60 students as well as witnessing critical cuts to integral programming such as disabled education & services, mental health, and the arts. While outlets are referring to this national dilemma as a “shortage”, institutions simply do not have the budget or the capacity to offer quality educators a livable salary or competitive wages. Before the pandemic, multiple districts throughout the nation were already experiencing this crisis or on the verge of a deficit. The impact of Covid-19 on education heightened existing issues, steepened existing gaps, and perpetuated existing inequities. Dallas schools are not exempt from this crisis with several local schools doubling up staff’s responsibilities. With a majority of institutions in crisis, and their energy funneled into modes of survival, where does the student rest within this discord? How are the livelihood, mental health, and education of our youth impacted by these circumstances? What are institutions doing to address the devastating deepening of educational gaps and inequities of BIPOC learners amidst this crisis?