Wake Schools using more substitutes than ever before, Superintendent Moore says

The Wake County School District is using more substitute teachers than ever before as teachers continue to leave the profession.

Leah Williams taught language arts, physical education and journalism at West Lake Middle School. She also helped produce the school's yearbooks.

Williams left teaching in August after more than 20 years of teaching, and she is one of the teachers who left the profession.

"I miss the kids terribly, I really do," said Williams, who left West Lake Middle School in August. "But for me, mentally and emotionally, it was time for me to go."

Williams said the shortages will get worse if state and county leaders do not get serious about teacher pay and student discipline.

"We need to get discipline back in schools," Williams said.

School leaders, like Wake Superintendent Catty Moore, have also noticed the drop in teachers in the county.

"The number of schools and classrooms that we have had substitute teachers, or teachers covering, is probably the highest we've ever had," Moore said.

Moore spoke with county commissioners about the teaching vacancy rates in the state, and made a pitch to raise pay in order to recruit, and retain, educators.

In the $650 million budget proposal from the district, a raise for teachers would be a small amount, a few hundreds dollars more, in addition to any raises that may be approved in the new budget.

For Williams, it should be about more than money, as educators should be working under realistic expectations as well.

"Teachers don't do it for the pay. Yet, I have to be able to take care of my own children too," Williams explained. "Look for somewhere where you're going to be appreciated and trusted."