OMAHA- As many Omaha-area schools come upon their final days this week, hundreds of resignation letters are being filed by administrators from teachers leaving their districts. While metro districts in Nebraska are losing fewer educators this year compared to previous semesters, the number of people leaving, according to school officials, is still higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Based on the resignation letters filed, it is estimated that around 1,200 Omaha-area educators are leaving their districts, a number expected to grow as additional school staff members exit following resignation deadlines. Last year, that number hovered right around 1,250 educators leaving their positions. In May of 2021, only around 900 educators left their jobs in the Omaha area. The most recent numbers are indicative of the nationwide teaching shortage still affecting many states.

Although the numbers are alarming to many, the Nebraska State Education Association, the State Board of Education, and Nebraska's lawmakers have attempted to allay concerns through the creation of meaningful legislation geared toward teacher retention. Recently, Gov. Jim Pillen even repealed the basic-skills test for teachers, which was previously a requirement for teacher certification. A legislative proposal also sought to give grants to teachers who stayed at their job for a certain amount of years. Reasons for leaving range from family relocation, to extra workload, to student misbehavior.

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