Teaching has become one of the most draining jobs in America. Today’s teachers are navigating the threat of school shootings, a pandemic and intensifying political interference in their lesson plans — all while their wages remain stagnant.

Why it matters: Teachers are asking themselves whether shouldering those burdens is still worth it, and many experts warn of a looming staffing crisis.

“I’m really worried about the profession in general, the amount of people leaving, the quality of the applicants who are out there,” said Brooke Olsen-Farrell, superintendent of the Slate Valley Unified School District in Vermont. “We have roles open with no applications, and it’s not just our district. It’s every district.”…

“I’ve held a lot of crying teachers in my arms as I’ve crossed this country They are so overwhelmed and you can see the sense of hopelessness and powerlessness” said Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers’ union.