The Great Resignation is affecting the Lee County school district as teachers leave

Teachers and other school employees are tired of feeling overworked and underpaid.

A lot of them are quitting their jobs. Since July of 2020, the Lee County school district has lost about 900 teachers.

So the Lee County School Board has addressed the Great Resignation and what to do about it.

Marsha Ellis, a former Lee County school teacher, left in June after a 19-year career at the district. She said the stress between COVID-19 concerns and low pay was too much. Having to cover other teachers’ classes because of shortages was also difficult.

“I felt like I was doing an impossible job. I felt demoralized in my profession,” said Ellis, who taught at Varsity Lakes Middle School.

She said she knows many other teachers still on the job who feel like her too.

Teacher absences and shortages meant more work for those still on the job.

“I had to get up early many times a week at 4 o’clock in the morning and prepare lessons for virtual learning in order to feel like I was, I could do my job because I was called out very often, many times a week to cover classes so there wasn’t planning time to prepare,” Ellis said.

On top of that, Ellis said teachers and school staff often felt disrespected and undervalued.

The Lee County school district’s own research shows Ellis is not alone.

A survey of departed teachers found most quit for family or health reasons, working conditions, other job opportunities or low pay.

Kevin Daly, with the teachers union, said some teachers won’t wait until the school year ends.

“They’ll just leave, you know, when they get fed up, or when they finally had enough, you know, they’re just walking out,” Daly said.

Ellis said she does not see that changing any time soon. She worries about what that means for students.

“I really feel for the children,” Ellis said.