Larger class sizes, needing to teach subjects in which they’re less fluent, and less individualized instruction; these are some of the challenges facing teachers in K-12 schools where teaching positions go unfilled. A survey of 1,005 full-time K-12 school teachers in the United States was conducted between April 14 and 25, 2016. The survey was sponsored by the University of Phoenix and executed by Harris Poll.
37% of K-12 teachers indicate at least one full-time teaching position is unfilled in their school, with an average of 2.6 unfilled positions. 12% say there are five or more unfilled full-time teaching positions in their schools.
Despite the shortage and extra challenges, an overwhelming 92% of K-12 school teachers indicate that they’re satisfied with their teaching career choice. They recognize that the career’s not for everyone however, as just 67% would recommend the teaching profession to others. More time in the classroom appears to dampen their outlook as 80% of newer teachers would recommend the profession (ten years or less experience). Perhaps the many changes in policies, testing, and regulations over the course of their careers have affected veteran teachers’ willingness to recommend the profession.
As for why they joined the teaching profession, here are the top reasons given:
- 78% of teachers said the ability to profoundly affect students’ lives.
- 49% of teachers said the variety that exists because no two days are alike.
- 48% of teachers said they became a teacher because of the lifelong learning opportunities that exist in the profession.
And they’re not just coming straight out of a traditional teacher preparation program at a four-year institution. Of the survey respondents, 27% started their professional lives in a different field and switched to the teaching profession. 37% of these career changes said they always wanted to be a teacher, 28% wanted a change of pace, and 18% were re-entering the workforce after some time away.
If you’re not sure that teaching is right for you but want to try it out, it’s easy to test the waters. Schools are always looking for volunteers for after-school programs.
About University of Phoenix College of Education
University of Phoenix College of Education has been educating teachers and school administrators for more than 30 years. The College of Education provides bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for individuals who want to become teachers or current educators and administrators seeking advanced degrees to strengthen their professional knowledge. The institution has education programs available throughout most of the U.S. with faculty members on average bringing more than 17 years of professional experience to the classroom. For more information, visit phoenix.edu/education.
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