In the past few months, many teachers both locally and nationwide, have been leaving their jobs which has caused a nationwide teacher shortage. This means that there are less teachers available at schools and less kids are being taught every day. Many local schools are suffering from this teacher shortage, including Greendale.

Teachers at Greendale have different thoughts and opinions on the current teacher shortage. For the most part, the teacher shortage has impacted teachers by forcing them to sub for their coworkers because there are very few district substitute teachers. “The past few years have been really difficult for teachers on many levels. Many of us have our own workload, which increases every year, then are asked to substitute for colleagues because the district can’t get substitute teachers, plus teachers feel guilty taking off when their kids are sick, or they themselves are sick, which doesn’t help morale or physical health,” English teacher Kate Wagner said.

Not only does the teacher shortage affect teachers, but it also has an impact on the students themselves. Students may form close bonds with their teachers and they become trusted adults for some students. “In my eyes, some teachers are seen as friends and some not. I think that the teachers that attempt to talk about my outside life are much closer to me. Others are just more distant because I don’t talk to them about non school related things,” junior Brady Polasek said. 

Here at Greendale, teachers play a very important role in the school. At many schools, teachers are taken for granted, and it can be seen that teachers play a big role in the education of the future. “Here at Greendale of course I am a math teacher and one of the NHS advisors, but I also try to be someone who supports both the students and staff, reminding them we can all get through these tough times together. Does this happen every day, no, but I do my best to make GHS a place where everyone feels comfortable and wants to be,” Math teacher Amanda Hauser said.

At Greendale and schools nationwide, teachers play different roles in their schools. It is up to them on how they will influence their students in a positive or negative way. Students seem to underappreciate how much teachers do for them, and that may be the cause for the teacher shortage both nationwide and here at Greendale. But science teacher Andrew Lasch takes his job seriously and hopes students notice how hard teachers work. “The Greendale mission states, “All students belong and are empowered to learn, grow, and engage as part of a global community.” I’m here to do my part in achieving that goal,” science teacher Andrew Lasch said.