What can be done to solve the substitute teacher shortage?

• Scott LaMar/WITF
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar was formerly the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

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Airdate: Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Substitute teachers are in short supply in school districts throughout the country. A recent national survey of schools found 75% of them say it’s become a challenge to find substitutes.

It’s gotten to a point where teachers in some schools are teaching two classes at once in two different subjects.

Substitutes are in such demand that they’re getting called by multiple districts to fill in.

The COVID pandemic is only one factor.

JR Godwin, Vice President of Business Affairs with Substitute Teacher Services, on Tuesday’s Smart Talk said, “this is not a new issue. Statistically from the Department of Education, we’ve seen a drop in the number of people going into education every single year.”

Godwin indicated many substitutes stayed home during the pandemic out of caution for their and their families’ health. Hybrid learning during the pandemic also meant full time teachers could teach from home so there wasn’t as much need for substitutes.

But now with most classes back in person, school districts need substitutes.

Districts have responded to the shortage by paying substitutes more money, in part because those working as substitutes can make as much if not more money in the private sector.