Bay Area Teacher Shortage Hits Home for SFUSD Families

As students returned to school in San Francisco this fall, a massive teacher shortage impacted the district. The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) began the 2022-2023 academic year lacking adequate staff to fill all classrooms.

According to Superintendent Matt Wayne, the high cost of living in San Francisco has contributed significantly to the current teacher shortage. In an effort to ensure all students had an instructor on the first day of school, the district rearranged existing teachers and staff. Some parents met their child's new teacher during orientation, while others worried about the lack of qualified teachers for key subjects like Spanish, English, Math, Biology and Physics.

To tackle the shortage, SFUSD launched an advertising campaign to recruit more teachers locally and from out of state. The district is also continuing an internship program that allows new teachers to work under supervision while completing their credentials.

Parents and families value the amazing teachers already working in SFUSD schools, but hope to see more talented educators hired soon to guarantee a quality education for every student. The teacher shortage highlights the need for competitive wages to attract teaching talent to the city, as well as diverse pipelines into the profession.

As SFUSD leaders develop solutions, parents can get involved by volunteering, advocating for better teacher pay, and supporting bond measures and legislation that invest in public education. It will take a collective effort to ensure all classrooms have great teachers guiding our students in the years ahead.

The teacher shortage presents a challenge, but also an opportunity to reimagine how we staff and compensate educators. With creative thinking and community partnership, we can build the outstanding public school district San Francisco students deserve.

Together, we can make a difference for SFUSD schools!