Mississippi education officials report mixed trends in teacher vacancies, highlight retention initiatives

Mississippi Department of Education officials told the commission on Jan. 10 that statewide educator vacancies have fallen since the first survey year in 2021 but some subject areas showed year-over-year increases.

Dr. Van Cleave, presenting the department's annual educator workforce update, told commissioners the Office of Teaching and Leading launched the shortage survey on Aug. 20, 2024, and closed it Nov. 1, 2024. "For the fourth year running, 100% of Mississippi's traditional public school districts completed the survey," she said, summarizing district-reported vacancies and locally generated shortage strategies.

The update matters because teacher shortages affect classroom staffing and district operations across grade spans. The department rolled…