IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) - The phrase, “teacher shortage” can be interpreted in different ways. According to some experts, it can simply mean one district has more than one teacher job opening. The Iowa Department of Education reports more than 600 unfilled teaching positions.

“There are general trends, there are overall statistics, and all those things are important to keep in mind. It’s also important to keep in mind that we want to make sure that every school that needs a teacher in whatever position has an opportunity to hire somebody who is qualified,” said Prof. Mark McDermott with the Univ. of Iowa College of Education .

So; why is there a shortage? Some experts say it’s important to acknowledge “teaching is not an easy job to pursue.”

“It’s a profession that takes a lot of lear

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