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The State of the Teaching Profession

The teaching profession appears headed for a crisis. According to the National Association of Independent Schools, the number of bachelor’s of education degrees awarded fell from 176,000 in 1971 to only 90,000 in 2021, a 49 percent decrease in 50 years. Of the approximately four million K-12 teachers in the US, about 8 percent (320,000) leave the profession annually. A quick subtraction equation yields a stark reality: each year far more teachers leave the profession than enter it. 

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Further compounding the problem, only 18 percent of Americans say they would encourage their child or another young person to become a K-12 teacher. Sixty percent of teachers feel their jobs are frequently stressful, 59 percent report experiencing burnout, 33 percent say they are likely to quit, and 16 percent dread going to work each day.

What is the cause?

Numerous factors contribute to declines in the teaching profession, including the politicization of education, underfunded schools, increased strain from standardized tests, lack of professional support, student and parent conduct, and COVID stress. Compensation, however, represents the number one reason given for declining interest in teaching. As wages have increased across almost all economic sectors, teacher pay has not kept pace. Teachers now earn nearly 30 percent less on average than other college-educated workers.

Of course, teachers have never been the highest paid employees in our economy. They tend to choose the profession more for the mission than the money. But it appears we’ve reached a tipping point where the difficulties of the job outweigh the benefits. As incentives increase for educators to leave, demand for teachers is expected to outpace supply by 100,000 in 2025. Make no mistake, this is becoming a national crisis. 

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Where are Christian Schools in the Equation?

Christian schools generally pay lower salaries because they charge less in tuition. This is true for historic, economic, and theological reasons. The earliest Christian schools were staffed by educators in religious orders requiring a vow of poverty. Many Christian schools today charge less in tuition than their secular counterparts because they see school as a ministry that should be affordable for as many as possible. Such schools pay lower salaries because they have less revenue and consider their employees ministers whose primary motivation is missional rather than monetary.

I do not see this line of thought as either theologically reasonable or economically sustainable. First, speaking to the question of whether ministers should be paid fairly, Paul writes to Timothy that “the worker is worthy of his wages.” I know we feel this way about our teachers, who are indeed ministers. Second, if we don’t pay teachers competitive salaries, they will eventually leave for jobs that better meet their financial needs. 

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How should Christian schools address the problem? 

The solution cannot be simply to raise tuition. Public schools raise salaries by increasing taxes, but Christian school families pay taxes too. If Christian schools increase tuition to keep pace, their families end up paying twice. Unfortunately, there’s no low-hanging fruit to pick; they must tend the whole vineyard carefully to meet the challenge. Schools can better distinguish between luxuries and necessities and prune overhead where it makes sense. They can find greater efficiencies in their workforce and decrease employee headcount while keeping classes small and student-teacher ratios low. They can do a better job at philanthropy to cover facilities costs, freeing more operating revenue for salaries. They can find new revenue streams and manage cash investments with sharper acumen. They can grow enrollment, filling every possible empty seat. And schools can do these things without weakening admission standards, without changing the feel of a campus where students are known and loved, and without compromising their Christ-centered mission. A Christian school is a ministry, an educational institution, and a business. It must manage all three with excellence to be wise stewards of the resources God has faithfully given.

 

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I am more optimistic than ever about the value of a Christian education. In a world gone mad, Christian schools are a shelter from the storm. I believe this is true for both students and teachers. Education is a noble profession, maybe the most noble. Our teachers not only teach, but they also minister with tireless devotion, problem solve with genius intellect, parent with limitless patience, protect with fierce passion, and love with Christ-like compassion. I consider it an honor to work in support of those who give their lives for our children. Together let’s create a culture that honors our teachers by paying them well.

 
 

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Dr. Matt Kerlin is the Head of School at Mount Paran Christian School. A respected Christian independent school leader with a distinguished tenure as Head of School in North Carolina prior to MPCS, Dr. Kerlin also served at esteemed institutions like Samford University, the University of Alabama, and Belmont University. Dr. Kerlin's path has been marked by a steadfast commitment to student development and holistic growth.
 

 
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