Survey: 1/3 of MN teachers thinking of quitting, retiring due to stress amid pandemic (AUDIO)

A new survey of around 9,700 members of Education Minnesota found high levels of stress and anxiety–especially for educators who are now simultaneously teaching online and in-person. Education Minnesota President Denise Specht says “about 30% of people taking the survey are thinking about quitting or retiring, that’s a lot of people considering that we already have a teacher shortage in Minnesota.” Specht says educators are “overwhelmed, frustrated and worried about their mental health” amid COVID-19. And she says information from the Teachers Retirement Association of Minnesota shows applications for retirement benefits increased by 35-percent in August and September 2020 compared to the same period last year. Here’s more with Education Minnesota’s Denise Specht.