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A teacher crisis: Educators leaving their profession in record numbers

DAYTON — Educators are leaving their jobs in record numbers across the country and Ohio is not immune.

As the school year in the Miami Valley is about to end, News Center 7′s Mike Campbell is taking a look at how many teachers may not return, and it’s not good.

Teachers around the Miami Valley and the state are under more pressure than ever before and it’s leading many to make plans to leave.

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Emily Pruzzo has two children in the Kettering School District, and she hopes her district can buck the trend of teacher walking off the job early. However, she does understand the thought process.

“I’m sure its been a rough few years during the pandemic. I am sure they are just as stressed as everyone else has been about it,” said Pruzzo.

Scott DiMauro, the president of the Ohio Education Association, - the statewide teachers union said, “The problem is coming from both ends. People leaving early and fewer people coming into the profession,”

DiMauro said the numbers show that this is a crisis. An amazing 90 percent of teachers report experiencing burnout while 55 percent of those teachers are thinking about leaving teaching earlier than planned.

And it’s getting worse. That’s up 18 percent from a survey six months ago. And replacements are not on the way. The ratio of hiring new teachers to jobs is 59 – way less than 2010 or even in 2016. That means districts are falling further and further behind.

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The reasons are long, unattractive pay packages, pressure from politicians, student conduct after three years of pandemic absences and deteriorating partnership with parents.

“I don’t know a single teacher that doesn’t welcome parental involvement in our schools,” said DiMauro.

Some districts are working to turn this trend around. Parents are trying to look at potential bright sides if there is large teacher turnover.

“I think having new teachers would be good for. I don’t know – diversity,” said Kettering parent Chris Mallets.

It doesn’t matter whether it is parochial, private, or public schools, administrators are working hard to keep the teachers they have very committed to the profession.

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