Staff Shortages Plague JCSD

Like other schools across the state of Iowa, Janesville CSD is facing staff shortages. Data collected from School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) indicates several recurring issues and concerns within the education system. The SAI survey shared that there were over 500 open teaching positions in rural schools at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year and additional 600 positions filled with not fully qualified teachers. The report goes on to state, “Schools are facing challenges in finding and retaining qualified teachers, leading to vacancies and understaffed classrooms. 

The shortage not only affects teaching positions but also extends to support staff, bus drivers, and substitute teachers.” Janesville CSD is no exception. It is not uncommon to have multiple teachers out of the building every day. According to Dean Wendy Paterson of SUNY Buffalo State, “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, substitute teacher shortages have increased to the level that 20 percent of the requests for substitutes are unfilled.” These unfilled teacher absences can cripple student achievement. Schools struggle to fill these teacher absences by moving students to other classes, pulling in other school personnel to cover for the absent teacher, or moving students to the gym, cafeteria, or library. These options are less than ideal. 

That is why we need you. If you have ever considered helping in the school, now is the time. There are many reasons to become a substitute teacher. Substitute teaching is a remarkably rewarding and worthwhile career path for people in many different walks of life. As a sub, you get to work with children, set your own schedule, and experience many different opportunities in education.

As one high school science teacher says, “These are kids that need extra preparation, extra care, extra attention, just because of the world that they’re facing, but also they’re our future leaders. They’re the future scientists, they’re the future nurses and doctors, they’re the future, everything. And we need to be really tender and cautious and careful and protective over education because not only does this shape their minds, it shapes who they’re going to be as people.” 

Fortunately, you can help. Anyone with an associate's degree or 60 semester hours or higher and the completion of an approved substitute authorization course can substitute teach. For more information on substitute teaching authorization and licensure, contact the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners at 515-281-3245.