CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - 660 full time teacher positions are still open in Iowa this first week of school.

The Department of Education reports a 10% increase in more teachers in the state, but school officials say that increase is not being felt in the region’s rural and tribal areas.

“At Little Priest, we have seen significant drops in teacher ed graduation rates,” said Manoj Patil, President of Little Priest Tribal College in Nebraska.

This week, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa’s governors heard warnings from rural educators at the tri state governors’ conference.

Educators warned about the impacts of teacher shortages, like burnout, low pay, and teacher education.

“40% of our teachers leave the profession within five years, driven by low pay, limited professional development an

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