AUSTIN, Texas — Growing safety threats, the looming battle over school vouchers and a teacher shortage – these are uncertain times in Texas schools. This month, KVUE welcomes back Judy Maggio for an in-depth series of reports called "Our Schools in Crisis."
Texas teachers are quitting their jobs in record numbers. But what's driving so many of them out of the classroom – and why do they feel like they're under attack?
Carla Perez is helping high school students in Hays County hone their reading and writing skills. She's spent close to a quarter-century in the classroom and considers this career a calling.
She said it was her mom who first nudged her toward teaching.
"She said I would teach priests to pray if I could. I always wanted to teach someone something," Perez said with a laugh.
From the start, the students have driven her passion for the profession.
"I began my career here at Hays CISD as a Pre-K bilingual teacher," she said. "And it was the best time that I've ever had in my life … I was so excited."
But she admits her excitement has waned in recent years.
Perez said schools aren't totally back to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic. Academic and social skills have suffered since then, and anxiety among kids and teens is through the roof.
Perez puts in 11- to 12-hour days and said she feels overwhelmed, not only by the demands on her time but by the growing safety threats on school campuses.
"There is so much on your plate. It's super hard to get things done," she said. "I remember having a lot of fun in the classroom when I first started ... It has become a lot more work, and it's gotten harder and harder as the years go by."
While Perez plans to stay put, plenty of her colleagues have called it quits. In fact, a recent survey of experienced teachers from across Texas showed 65% were seriously considering leaving education.
The survey was conducted by the Texas State Teachers Association, which is led by Ovidia Molina.
"We are seeing more people thinking of leaving the profession," Molina said. "We're seeing more people saying they just can't do it anymore. … and these are people that have been in education for decades."
When asked what's driving teachers away, Molina said it's not the kids.
"It's the way they are being treated," she said. "It's the way they are not being made to feel like professionals. It's the way their professionalism continues to be attacked."
According to Molina, Texas teachers don't have the freedom they once had in the classroom. Now she says the state dictates what to teach, and then turns around and questions what is being taught.
There is also the problem of low pay.
"We have many educators that have to work two and three jobs to stay in education, to be able to pay their bills, to be able to have a family, to try to buy a home, to put supplies in the classroom," Molina said. "In a state where we love to be No. 1 for everything … we are nowhere near No. 1 when it comes to teacher pay. It's a slap in the face."
On average, Texas teachers make about $62,500 a year – around $9,000 less than the national average.
Texas lawmakers ended their last legislative session without passing a new school finance bill or giving districts money for teacher pay raises.
Perez said even though teaching is more challenging than ever, she still finds a purpose in making a positive impact on students and mentoring new teachers who are just getting started.
"It's really a tough job ... It's gotten so much harder since I first started, and I commend so many veteran teachers for staying in it as long as they have," she said. "And I look forward to trying to train the new generation of teachers. They have so much much to give."
"I remember when I had so much energy and passion for it," she added. "It keeps me going."
This is Part 1 of KVUE's multi-part "Our Schools in Crisis" series. Tuesday on KVUE News at 6, Judy Maggio will continue looking at the problems in Texas schools, including what can be done to both attract and keep more teachers in the classrooms.