Realtorandy t1_ja04hjd wrote on February 25, 2023 at 9:08 PM

You are going to need significant (minimum 15-20k) increases in all school employee salaries just for them to be somewhat competitive. The brain drain is real. I know many current teachers who are on their way out and someone told me the other day that Henrico had lost a huge number of custodial and maintenance workers over the last year to both the private sector and other places paying much higher salaries. I have worked with a bunch of teachers who are looking to buy a home and single teachers are being effectively priced out of most markets in the area. This along with all of the other work condition issues is leading us to a true crisis that I don’t think enough people are talking about. There is literally no one waiting to replace them. As a parent with young kids, I am extremely scared for what education will look like over the next 10 years.

CountryMouse23 t1_ja0znjb wrote on February 26, 2023 at 12:58 AM

100% this. I am not a teacher, but one of those elusive support staff. With a ratio of 1:2,000, I can barely keep up with the paperwork, much less effect real change.

Watching teachers burn out and walk away is so worrisome. The younger teachers are seeing that their salaries don't buy much, their pensions have been eviscerated, and the political climate is toxic like never before. Who in the world would stay for 30 years? The crisis is coming like a slow-moving tidal wave and no one seems to be paying attention. People outside of education are in for a hell of an awakening. I genuinely worry for our kids, who, all corny sayings aside, really are our future.

I'm out in the next few years and it won't be soon enough. Given the shortage in my specific profession, there's a good chance they won't find anyone to fill the position.

Realtorandy t1_ja11pa3 wrote on February 26, 2023 at 1:14 AM

Your last line is the part that so many people don’t seem to be getting. There is no one in line to take these jobs. And educational quality is dropping and I’m afraid it will fall off a cliff.

CountryMouse23 t1_ja1kayu wrote on February 26, 2023 at 3:45 AM

I fear the same. You can see it teetering on the cliff now. We already have long-term substitutes without college degrees teaching in high-needs classrooms.

localheroism t1_ja0uveo wrote on February 26, 2023 at 12:21 AM

My mom's in a different state, but she's so beyond ready to retire in the next few years. It's incredible how badly screwed over teachers have been and especially in the last few years since the pandemic started and then admin/school boards/districts/legislators are feigning surprise at dwindling performance and staff levels. It's such a joke.

Realtorandy t1_ja11deq wrote on February 26, 2023 at 1:12 AM

It is completely unsustainable and I truly don’t think people understand how teachers are feeling right now.