Kirksville Superintendent Discusses Teacher Shortage

School districts across the country are combatting a teacher shortage. The Kirksville School District still has two teaching jobs open at the middle school. Superintendent Bob Webb says teacher hires continue to be made later every year.

Interest in teaching jobs has also dropped as schools are beginning to see fewer people apply. Webb says one of the factors is the history of teachers being underpaid.

Webb says another factor in the lack of applicants is related to internal issues within schools.

Webb is hopeful the work that teachers and schools have put in during the pandemic will increase the respect level of the teaching profession going forward.