ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida is one of many states facing a preschool teacher shortage.

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, 38% of Florida preschools are operating below capacity because of staffing and affordability challenges.

For Keyanni McGill, director of Education at Winter Park Day Nursery, early childhood education is more than a job.

“About four and a half years that I’ve been in this field as of right now, and I love it …” McGill said.

It’s helping shape a child’s most important years. Every day, she works to build connections with the children in her care.

McGill said a teacher shortage is something she experiences every day.

“Everyone spread a little thin. I know sometimes I have to cover in classrooms; we are a part of the National Accreditation Commission for early like early childcare. And so, our ratios and our numbers are a little lower than other schools,” McGill said.

The challenge comes at a critical time in a child’s development. According to First Things First, an Arizona-based organization that funds early education and health programs, 90% of a child’s brain development happens before age 5.

Experts say when classrooms don’t have enough teachers, children can lose valuable opportunities for individualized attention and learning.

“So behind me here, this lovely board, are all programs that (groups) had sent me flyers that are hiring. So the, the need is real,” said Megan Oates, coordinator for Childcare Apprenticeship and Childcare Center Operations Programs for Orange County Public Schools.

Oates helps train the next generation of preschool teachers and directors. But finding people willing to enter the profession has become increasingly difficult.

Oates say she is seeing a decline in people taking certification classes to become preschool teachers and directors.

“Yes, we definitely with the pandemic had a huge decline. It’s really hard to care for yourself and your family when you’re making minimum wage or just above,” Oates said.

Oates said preschool teachers in Central Florida typically earn between $14 and $20 an hour. For many, that’s simply not enough to keep up with rising costs, leading some educators to leave the field altogether.

“Attracting people to go into a profession where there is high stress and low pay is sometimes difficult. So, I think as a community we need to come together and, and to think about that,” said Dr. Andrea Borowczak, director of Teacher Education and Science Education at the University of Central Florida.

Borowczak said the shortage reaches far beyond today’s classrooms. Without enough educators entering the profession, the long-term future of early childhood education could be affected. 

“With a shortage of preschool teachers, we would actually see larger class sizes. Although, the state, of course, has ratios in place. I would say that, you know, fewer teachers means that there would have to be creative ways of taking care of those students,” Borowczak said.

Experts say continued staffing shortages could place additional pressure on existing teachers, limit enrollment opportunities for families, and make quality childcare harder to access.

For educators already in the field, the concern isn’t just about staffing numbers. It’s about ensuring children receive the support they need during some of the most formative years of their lives.

“Being more aware of early childhood education would probably be a really good start,” McGill said.

Experts say that until more teachers enter the profession, many childcare centers will continue doing more with less while working to provide the same level of care families depend on.