Bishop talks about teacher shortages in Harpswell Anchor
The Harpswell Anchor interviewed Penny Bishop, dean of the College of Education and Human Development, about teacher shortages in Maine. Bishop said the state’s relatively low wages have made it harder for school districts to remain fully staffed. “I wouldn’t write off paying people more, because it matters a lot,” Bishop said. She added that many schools are dealing with lingering problems from the COVID-19 pandemic that have contributed to issues attracting and retaining teachers. “Conditions haven’t improved,” Bishop said. “It may be that we’re back face to face, but in fact you’re now teaching students who are demonstrating behavioral and mental health issues that are sort of unprecedented.”