More than 3 million teachers work in classrooms across the country, but there are also thousands of vacant positions in American schools.
In Florida, the education system is facing the highest teacher shortage in the country, followed by Georgia, according to the World Population Review.
Part of the reason why teachers are leaving the profession is because of burnout, education advocates warn.
“It is becoming almost a crisis issue at this point,” President of the Georgia Association of Educators Lisa Morgan said.
What You Need To Know
Two lawmakers have introduced a bill to address teacher mental health, as burnout concerns are on the rise
In Georgia, a 2025 survey found that 66% of teachers have experienced burnout
The Georgia Association of Educators says teachers need more support and more mental health resources
To try and address this issue nationwide, two federal lawmakers – Rep. Johnny Olszewski, D-Md., and Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio – have introduced a bill called the REFRESH Act. If passed by Congress, the measure would establish grant funding for educator mental health and wellness.
For Olszewski, it’s an issue that hits close to home since he spent many years as a teacher before transitioning to politics.
“Things have gotten harder since I left the classroom. But even during my time, issues of workload, really high-demand jobs where you really care about them and take on the concerns of our students,” he said. “And (teachers) bring everything that they have in their community, in their household, to the schoolhouse.”
Morgan, who spent 21 years in the classroom, said Georgia is facing a unique crisis because of laws against unionizing. She said it adds another layer to teachers not receiving the support she said they need.
Additionally, President Donald Trump cut $1 billion in federal K-12 mental health grants last year, citing a conflict of priorities. The Trump administration has also sought to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and pushed to dismantle the Department of Education.
It is unclear if the REFRESH Act has the support it would need to move forward, but both representatives said they’re not concerned.
“It’s my hope that this is an issue that everyone can get behind. I mean, it is cliché to say children are the future, but it is actually the reality that we live in,” Brown said. “And so we want to ensure the success of our futures, and we start with supporting our teachers and giving them the resources that they need.”
Morgan agreed with the need for resources, and added that teachers’ responsibilities are only growing.
“There can always be more support for educators, particularly when we look at all the additional duties that educators are expected to perform now,” she said. “The classroom is not like it was even five, six years ago, and the expectations for educators have continued to increase while the support has not increased at that same level.”
While working to try to get the bill passed through Congress, both lawmakers said they are thinking of additional ways to help teachers.
“I’m proud to push back against some of the cuts to the Department of Education, but I’d say we need to be investing in both the human infrastructures of the people themselves,” Olszewski said. “I think the REFRESH Act is a great example of us doing exactly that, but also looking at things like benefits and salary and workload.”