Supporting Educators Beyond Teacher Appreciation Week

As Kansas and Missouri celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, educators across both states and the nation are sounding the same alarm: appreciation is welcome, but action is essential. Recent survey data show a profession under strain, with many teachers questioning whether they can or should continue in the classroom.

What teachers are telling us

According to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, only one-third of public school teachers are highly satisfied with their jobs, and more than half say they would not recommend the profession to others. A deeper look reveals the complexity behind these figures:

• 33% of teachers are very satisfied with their jobs (vs. 51% of U.S. workers overall)
• 84% say they lack enough time in the day to complete their work
• 30% are considering leaving the classroom this year — most for careers outside education
• Despite the pressures, over half still describe the work as fulfilling, driven by strong relationships with students and colleagues.

Teachers are also concerned about student well-being:

• 49% report increased behavior challenges since the pandemic.
• 48% say academic performance is fair or poor, especially in high-poverty schools.
• Nearly 1 in 3 teachers help students with mental health challenges daily.

Understanding Kansas educators

In Kansas, a 2023 statewide educator survey found that more than half of teachers report feeling disengaged. Salary dissatisfaction, student behavior challenges, and mental health pressures were among the most cited concerns.

• Only 29% of Kansas teachers report being “engaged” or “strongly engaged” in their work—down from 36% in 2021.
• A combined 55% of teachers report being disengaged or actively disengaged.
• Salary, mental health support, and classroom behavior management are among the lowest-rated aspects of the job.
• Teachers with 4–11 years of experience — often considered the backbone of the workforce — are significantly less engaged and more likely to consider leaving.
• 21% of teachers with a second job said they were likely to leave the profession—compared to 13% of those without one.

Kansas teachers continue to value collaboration and their relationships with students and principals. But only 2 out of 5 teachers agree that “society values the profession.”

Missouri educators juggle fulfillment and fatigue

According to the Missouri State Teachers Association 2024 Member Survey:

• 70% of teachers find their work fulfilling, and 83% feel supported by colleagues, but many cite overload and lack of time as top stressors.
• More than half say student behavior has gotten worse, with increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and chronic absenteeism.
• Mid-career educators (around 10–20 years in the field) are the most likely to report burnout.
• Many teachers feel state-level policy debates and public rhetoric have made the profession feel less respected and more politicized.

Still, teachers remain committed to the classroom but are asking for change.

Where states go from here

Retention challenges are particularly acute for mid-career educators and those in high-need schools. And while many surveys reveal frustration, they also show teachers willing to stay if given the right conditions.

A 2022 report from Education Commission of the States outlines practical steps states can take to improve teacher retention and rebuild the pipeline:

• Invest in early-career support through mentorship, teacher induction, and professional learning communities.
• Expand "Grow Your Own" initiatives that help paraprofessionals, high school students, and local community members enter the profession.
• Prioritize working conditions, especially in rural and high-poverty schools, by addressing class sizes, behavioral support, and planning time.
• Enhance compensation strategies, including loan forgiveness, signing bonuses for high-need roles, and retention pay.
• Improve data systems to identify shortage areas and better understand where policy interventions are most needed.

Aligned’s Take: Teachers show up for Kansas and Missouri students every day even as the challenges grow. As we honor educators this week, the most meaningful gesture we can offer is a commitment to policy that matches the value of their work. That means addressing workload, pay, preparation, and respect, because gratitude without change won’t be enough to keep great teachers in the classroom.