A new study suggests the shortage of teachers in Missouri will get much worse in a short time. Southwest Missouri State University’s annual study of teachers says vacancies in some fields are at their highest in 14 years. And a 34-percent drop in the number of teaching certificates issued in the last three years causes concerns about the future. The most serious shortages are in areas listed year after year–counseling, special education, music, science and math. The study also finds a shortage of librarians and principals. On the other hand, the study finds a surplus of elementary teachers.
