WESTBROOK, Maine — The school year isn't even over, but the Department of Education is already preparing for critical teacher shortages for next year.
The projections are so widespread Maine could qualify for emergency hiring rules. The need for teachers spreads across all age levels and varying subjects.
That could mean schools could hire people without a teaching license, as long as they pass a background check and have either a bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience or are enrolled in a teacher training program. Applicants could also be considered if they have an education technician certification.
"People should care about public education, right? It should be a priority," Westbrook High School Special Education teacher Rachelle Violette, said.
Violette attributes such shortages to low salaries, which are not competitive with other industries, and the lack of incentives and job growth. She said experience is the only way to earn more money, which contributes to one of the biggest reasons she's seen her coworkers leave the profession: it's almost impossible to live off their salary with the increasing costs of living, she said.
"There are so many teachers here that are single household, working multiple jobs to make ends meet," she said. "There's no additional motivating factors other than the passion for your work."
The staffing shortage projections for the next year are discouraging, Westbrook Superintendent Peter Lancia said.
"Salaries are not always high comparatively, but expectations continue to increase," Lancia said. "It's a hard profession to come into, while those of us in the industry know it's the most rewarding profession to be in."
Lancia said Westbrook High School piloted a program this year to help encourage its students to pursue education. It gives students the chance to take college-credit education courses, to give them a glimpse at what it's like to lesson plan and be in a classroom.
"I just think that something needs to change. Something's going to need to change," Violette said. "I have senior students right now that want to go into education like they said, 'I would love to be a teacher,' but they're like 'I can't live off of that."