Can You Predict Your Next Teacher Shortage?

If you knew today which staffing gaps could threaten your district’s priorities next year, what would you do differently? Teacher shortages are often treated as an HR challenge. But when staffing gaps affect class sizes, special education services, program growth, student outcomes, budgets, and district priorities, they become a leadership challenge. District leaders already have signals that can help them anticipate where staffing risk is building. Certification timelines, recurring vacancies, turnover patterns, hard-to-staff roles, and internal talent pipelines can all provide an earlier view of where shortages may emerge. In this timely conversation, superintendents and district leaders will explore how to use those signals to look ahead, identify areas of potential staffing pressure, and make earlier decisions about where to recruit, develop, or retain educators — moving from reacting to vacancies to planning 6–18 months ahead. Bring your HR lead.