Teacher Shortages Aren’t Just About Hiring. They’re About Hope.

School leaders talk about “morale” when the building feels heavy, but morale isn’t just a mood to lift. It’s a signal. Appreciation lunches and small perks can help, but they rarely change what’s underneath: the daily conditions that shape whether teaching feels doable. When educators describe good days, they talk about student breakthroughs, lessons that land, and colleagues who have their back. When they describe bad days, it’s more often endless tasks, confusing communication, meeting overload, and tension between adults. That’s where morale actually lives.