Shortage of substitute teachers has become a major problem here in New Mexico. The reason for shortages of substitute teachers is that ever since the pandemic has hit 2 years many New Mexico School Districts have been suffering with the shortages of substitute teachers. Such as our own School District is currently having a shortage of substitute teachers. The reason why the Zuni Public School District is having a shortage of substitute teachers within our school district is the local background checks that our school board put into place a few months ago. Which is resulting from our people applying for substitute teachers, cooks, custodians and bus drivers.

With many shortage of substitute teachers has become a huge impact here in New Mexico. With the New Mexico school districts they lost a huge amount of substitute teachers within the past two years. There are currently 600+ teaching positions open state wide. According to Deepa Shivaram found on NPR she stated that National Guard members and state workers are being encouraged to volunteer to become licensed substitute teachers and child care workers under a new initiative in New Mexico.¨ (Jan, 22). Our Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has asked the National Guard Troops and state employers to volunteer as substitute teachers to help ease the extreme staffing shortages in New Mexico. Since Winter break 60 school districts and Charter Schools moved to remote learning due to shortage of staff.

According to the Washington Post from January 26, 2022 by Sydney Page, New Mexico has 60 out of 146 School Districts in New Mexico forced to shift to remote learning because of staff shortages. 75 child care centers have partially or completely closed for the same exact reason. Many nationwide schools are facing temporary closures for the same reason which is stated in the Washington Post. Later on, the WP talked about The New Mexico State Public Education Department is expediting the licensing process and waiving the application application fees to get volunteers in the classroom quickly. New Mexico State workers can also take administrative leave to jump and help volunteer as substitute teachers. Some schools are also encouraging parents to take a role as a substitute teacher.

The impact I feel that has in the school is a huge impact. What I think will happen now is the districts will try to encourage parents and other adults to sign up as substitute teachers. As a student this makes me feel worried because what if the school will close and not very many students can do virtual or like staying home. Why I say it has a huge impact is because the schools struggle finding substitute teachers when a teacher calls out to leave the office and have trouble finding a substitute to cover the class. If there aren't enough teachers it will be a possibility that the school will close and the school will go virtual until the district has enough teachers.