Is There a Teacher Shortage in South Carolina?

Is there a professional more honorable, selfless, and impactful than teaching? Teachers literally shape the future as they impart academic and life lessons to their students. But throughout the U.S., there are massive shortages in the profession. According to the National Education Association, there are 300,000 teaching and staff vacancies nationwide and South Carolina is in the midst of its own teacher shortage. South Carolina began last year with record vacancies and the trend continues with some South Carolina communities especially hard hit by the shortages. Richland School District Two had more than 100 vacancies at the start of the 2022 school year, Sumter School District, more than 150, and Richland School District One had 181 vacancies.

Why There Is a Teaching Shortage in South Carolina

More than 6,900 teachers left their jobs during the 2021-22 school year in South Carolina. That’s a 16% increase in teacher departures from the year before. But why are people leaving the profession? Certainly, the stressors of the pandemic left their mark, but many reasons existed long before. Burnout, pay, respect, unsupportive administrations, long off-hours work, inability to advance, and personal reasons are often cited when teachers are asked why they leave the profession. And older professionals who might have stayed on are now saying they’re ready to retire. For younger teachers or those considering the profession, low unemployment and a job-hunter’s market mean they have many other career options. All of these contributing factors have combined to leave the nation and the state where they are today.

Why Teachers Stay

On the other hand, those who do stay in the field are passionate about the profession. They believe that that make a real difference in their students’ lives and the world as a result. They advocate for their students and are willing to put up with any negative aspects of the career because they feel they were born for the role; it’s a calling. They value the connections they make with their students, their coworkers, parents, and the community, and feel they are appreciated by those who matter. And they like having summers off to spend with family and friends as they rejuvenate and get ready for the next year.

Addressing the Teacher Shortage in South Carolina

Teacher salaries have always been at the center of career conversations. Do you enter a profession you know you’ll love and sacrifice a high salary? Or do you follow your passion? The South Carolina legislature recently took a step in the right direction from a pay perspective, adopting a budget that would raise the minimum teacher salary from $36,000 to $40,000. And some districts have gone further, giving higher step raises. School District Five of Lexington and Richland is providing raises for teachers and staff. First year teachers there can now expect an annual salary of $41,600, more than 4 percent higher than last year. The district also introduced the New Educator Retention Incentive that awards $2,500 a year to new teacher for the first three years of employment.

South Carolina has also partnered with nonprofit programs to prepare more candidates for the profession. Call Me Mister aims to increase the pool of teachers from diverse backgrounds. The program is available through certain universities and colleges around the state and offers mentoring and leadership opportunities to minority students earning a teaching degree. To qualify, you must maintain a certain GPA, adhere to your institution’s attendance policy, and exhibit the behavior of a role model. But in exchange, you can also qualify for assistance with tuition and textbooks.

Benefits of a Teaching Degree in South Carolina

Teaching is a rewarding career that allows you to instill knowledge, skills, and ideals that your students will use for the rest of their lives. You answer the burning questions on their minds, share your passion for a particular subject, and show them that learning can be fun. You can also inspire your students to become lifelong learners, and just maybe, to become teachers themselves. There are other reasons to join this noble profession:

Gain In-Demand Skills: Close to 7,000 teachers left their jobs last year, which means that close to 7,000 teaching positions need to be filled in South Carolina. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects that employment for elementary, middle, and high school teachers will grow over the next few years to accommodate the teacher shortage across the country. This means that the knowledge and skills you acquire will likely be in demand, no matter where you look for work.

Advance Your Career: If you already work in the field, now is a great time to advance your career. With a Master’s of Education Degree in Teacher Leadership, you could position yourself to take on an administrative role in your school. For instance, you could become a curriculum designer. In this role, you would develop and implement a new curriculum for your school and ensure that it’s updated every year. Or, you could become a teacher mentor, and advise new teachers as they develop professional goals and learn to navigate the workplace. With an advanced degree, you could also earn more or find a new position with a higher salary.

Work in a Flexible Career: Another benefit to a career in teaching is that you have flexibility. Teachers are needed everywhere in the U.S., so if you have to move, you may be able find work in another school district, or state—if you meet their licensure requirements. You also have flexibility in your schedule. When school lets out for the summer, you can enjoy that time off too.

If you want a rewarding career as a community hero, teaching could be the right path for you. At Limestone University, we offer both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in teaching that can prepare you for a great career in education. We also support the Call Me Mister program, and Misters who have graduated from our teaching education program have 100% job placement. Click the button to learn more.

Request Information