A new school year is underway and, once again, Wisconsin schools do not have qualified teachers in every classroom. Long-term substitute teachers and teachers with emergency certifications fill positions that would otherwise remain vacant. Declines in the number of young people entering the profession combined with high attrition rates have created new challenges for school leaders looking to build a strong teaching staff.
We spoke with five Wisconsin superintendents from five very different districts to get a first-hand account of the strategies they employ to address critical shortages in the teaching force.