Teacher outlook for 2023: Ample opportunities for special education teachers and beyond

If you're interested in teaching, you'll find a wide range of school districts anxious to talk to you. The education industry is still recovering from the hit it took in 2020, creating some interesting opportunities for new employees looking to enter this workforce.

Recovering from COVID-19's impact on the education industry

Though most districts have been back in session for at least a year now, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic can still be felt in the education industry. Hanover's 2022 Trends in K-12 Education Report indicated that 49% of students felt "depressed, stressed, or anxious to the point of interfering with their learning." Teachers heartily agreed, with 71% indicating that student morale after the pandemic was lower than before COVID-19 wreaked havoc on our school systems.

The last three years have put incredible strain on teachers, with 77% reporting that they're somewhat or extremely exhausted. From completely remote learning to hybrid learning with the option to learn from home, teachers faced many different paradigms with little to no time to prepare for these changes. Before the pandemic, just 13% of teachers anticipated leaving their careers within the next two years. After the pandemic, that number was up to 33%. Now, a whopping 54% of teachers predict leaving their careers within two years.

Ample openings for teachers

The National Center for Education Statistics anticipates that 44% of public schools in the United States will have teaching vacancies this year. Areas with some of the greatest demand include:

English language: Over 67 million U.S. residents speak a language other than English at home and need skilled teachers for English as a second language.
Mathematics: The complexities of mathematics make it difficult to find teachers with the proper expertise in today's overall shortage.
Special education: With 49 states reporting a shortage of teachers certified in special education, this field presents a growing number of opportunities for properly educated professionals.

Opportunities for teachers also extend beyond the states. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) reports that it will take nearly 69 million new teachers to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for universal primary and secondary education by 2030.

Opportunities for better perks and higher pay

Teacher shortages have continued to present a problem in the 2022-23 school year. Many districts have increased salaries to entice more teachers to work in their schools. In Las Vegas, the Clark County School District increased their starting salary for licensed teachers from $43,011 a year to $50,115. This represents their first pay raise for starting teachers since 2015. Maryland's Baltimore County school system increased the starting salary for unionized teachers holding bachelor's degrees to around $60,000 annually.

If you have a strong background in a specialized field, your salary will likely be even higher. Kevin Walton, HR specialist with Area Cooperative Educational Services, indicates that "If you're a special education teacher, you can probably come in and ask for a little more money."

While better pay is an enticing benefit, it's not the only thing teachers are looking for. The pandemic shifted the priorities of job seekers. Employees are now putting greater emphasis on work-life balance. Brian White, executive director of human resources and operations for the Auburn-Washburn school district in Topeka, Kansas, says that educators are looking for more flexibility regarding when and where they work. For teachers, this might mean having the option to work from home rather than the classroom on designated teacher work days when students aren't in school.

Districts easing certification requirements

In light of the recent teacher shortages, some school districts have eased their certification requirements for new teachers. Oklahoma schools can hire employees without teacher training through an adjunct program, provided that they meet other requirements. Alabama's emergency certification program allowed for over 4% of the state's teachers to work without a full teaching certificate in the 2020-21 school year. In Texas, roughly 20% of new teachers were hired without certification in 2021.

"If you're a special education teacher, you can probably come in and ask for a little more money."

In many cases, teachers who are hired without teaching certifications are industry professionals teaching a career-related class for which they can demonstrate ample expertise. Robert Abel, the human capital management chief for the Dallas school district, says, "it's about the passion, not about the paper."

Tips for creating your teacher resume

Before you post your resume on CareerBuilder, use these tips to create one that stands out:

Highlight your area of expertise. Special education teacher resume examples will look very different from PE teacher resumes.
Detail your experience and background as it pertains to the subject matter. Passion and knowledge can trump certifications in the current job market.
Include any form of teaching experience including training adult employees, volunteering at youth camps, or leading extracurricular programs.

If you're looking for a field with a growing number of job opportunities, education is the place to be. With the right education and background, you can enjoy greater bargaining power than most new hires will get.