Teacher shortages are affecting students of color and kids from low-income families the most. The kids hit hardest when schools closed because of the pandemic are also among the most likely to start school this year without enough teachers and other support staff. A combination of factors including pandemic exhaustion, low morale and a noxious political climate have led some teachers or would-be educators to leave their jobs, although a concrete picture of exactly how many teachers are needed nationwide is elusive. The vacancies themselves undermine learning, but so do the shortages’ many ripple effects – from the rush to hire inexperienced teachers to the stress those vacancies place on staff who are picking up the slack. Tap our link in bio. more about the impact teacher shortage is having on students nationwide, and why this matters as kids are going back to school. 📷: Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY; Courtesy of Conor Geiger and Sha Santana