School Personnel Shortages, Mental Health Challenges:

Principals, Policymakers Discuss Impact on Students

Today at 10:30 a.m. (ET)

Watch the Live Stream Here

Listen to front-line principals discuss the struggle for academic recovery and equity as part of a National Principals Month policy forum today from 10:30 a.m.–noon (ET).

The schools students returned to this fall after two years of the pandemic are facing unprecedented challenges. Severe personnel shortages—lack of teachers, bus drivers, food service workers, counselors, mental health experts and other school professionals—are putting a great strain on building strong learning environments, according to principals who run schools.

In communities across the nation, principals face serious obstacles as they strive to create positive learning atmospheres and help students catch up. According to the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ 2022 Survey of America’s School Leaders and High School Students, 50% of school leader respondents say their stress level is so high they are considering a career change or retirement.

Panel-discussion participants include:

Moderator: Denisa Superville, Assistant Editor, Education Week
Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8)
Samuel Buckley, Assistant Principal, Pikesville High School, Baltimore, MD
Edward Cosentino, Principal, Clemens Crossing Elementary School, Columbia, MD
Sue Danielson, Principal, Rosa Parks Elementary School, Woodbridge, VA
Robert Motley, Principal, Atholton High School, Howard County, MD

Opening remarks:

Roberto Rodríguez, Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development, U.S. Department of Education
Silvia Martinez, office of Sen. Ben Ray Luján (NM)
Dr. L. Earl Franks, NAESP Executive Director
Dr. Leonard P. Pugliese, AFSA President
Ronn Nozoe, NASSP CEO