As central Pennsylvania schools scramble to fill vacancies amidst unprecedented staffing challenges before the new academic year begins, what once seemed like an extraordinary scenario has, for many school districts - and teachers - become the new normal.
For younger educators, a time before the staffing shortages accelerated by COVID-19 doesn’t exist. Those who entered the field in the wake of the pandemic have found taking on extra students, working without planning time, and being chronically short on support staff and special instruction to be the status quo.