The Teacher Shortage Phenomenon in Southeast New Hampshire: Superintendent Perspectives and Responses to Hiring Challenges and Instructional Program Impact
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Authors
Byrne, Nathaniel
Date
2025
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The teacher shortage phenomenon has emerged as a persistent national concern with
profound implications for student achievement, instructional quality, and educational
equity (Bardelli & Ronfeldt, 2021; García & Weiss, 2020; Love & Love, 2022;
McHenry-Sorber & Campbell, 2019; Sutcher et al., 2019). This qualitative case study
investigates the effect of the teacher shortage phenomenon in the Southeast region of
New Hampshire, focusing specifically on how superintendents have adapted hiring
practices and how these adaptations have affected program delivery. Framed by a
conceptual model emphasizing salary, legislative influence, and public respect for the
profession, this study integrates superintendent perspectives, district-level data, and
contextual policy analysis to understand the local manifestation of a national issue.
Participants identified shifts in curriculum offerings, diminished applicant pools, and
morale issues among educators as central consequences of teacher shortage. Findings
indicate an increased reliance on alternatively certified or uncertified staff and raise
concerns about long-term sustainability and instructional capacity. The localized insights
reflect broader national trends and underscore the intersectionality of policy, community
context, and systemic inequities. In addition to needed structural changes to the
recruitment pipeline and improved professional support mechanisms, states with strong
local control policies must also consider the influence of local decision-making on how
the teacher shortage phenomenon is perceived and experienced within communities. This
study contributes to the discourse on workforce development in public education and
offers practical implications for educational leaders, policymakers, and community
stakeholders working to ensure access to high-quality instruction for all students.