State report: teachers leaving profession

Eastern North Carolina — A recent report released by Public Schools of North Carolina shows an alarming number of teachers leaving the profession even though the rate is less than during the pandemic. Still, many school districts are struggling to fill these positions.

Currently, there are more than 1,200 teacher vacancies in North Carolina public schools for grades K-5 in various subject areas.

According to the annual report of the State of Teaching Profession for 2021-2022, approximately 7,300 teachers left NC public schools, that's a slightly lower rate than the year before.

Stephanie Cummings says she spent the last four years teaching upper elementary and special needs students at Pitt County Schools.

And despite her love for teaching, Stephanie says she left the profession for multiple reasons, “At least being able to make more money throughout the course of your career. In North Carolina, teachers with Master's Degrees don’t even get paid additionally for having a Master’s Degree, so I had a Master’s Degree in education and got paid at the same level as someone with a Bachelor’s Degree, so I find it kind of interesting that the field of education is not placing that additional value on furthering your education.”

Stephanie also says more money is needed to help fund classroom supplies and other school-related resources, "Also, the lack of support from the administration. More often than not, you’re falling under administrators who are more concerned about what’s coming down from the top than what’s going on within the walls of their schools. And then also safety has become a huge concern as well.

Pitt County public schools are offering sign-on bonuses of $2,500 or $4,000 depending on the courses taught.