Teacher shortages remain a major issue across Texas, and the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) is feeling the pressure. With ongoing vacancies in core subjects, bilingual programs, and special education, schools are having a hard time keeping classrooms fully staffed.

EPISD’s job listings currently show dozens of open teaching positions. In response, some campuses are combining classes or relying on long term substitute teachers to fill the gaps. This challenge isn’t unique to El Paso across the state, nearly one-third of new teachers hired in the 2023–2024 academic year were not certified, according to data from Raise Your Hand Texas.

Teachers in EPISD are already feeling the strain in their daily routines.

“I love teaching, but it’s been tough lately,” Chemistry teacher Troy Pavoggi, said. “There’s more pressure on us to support students who are behind.”

Students have also noticed the impact.

“Last semester, we didn’t have a permanent math teacher,” sophomore Ashley Martinez, said. “We had different subs for weeks, and it was really hard to stay on track.”

“Our classes feel overcrowded,” junior Javier Felix, said. “It’s harder to get individual help because there are so many of us.”

The University of Texas at El Paso is working to speed up the teacher training pipeline, but progress takes time. Meanwhile, EPISD continues to search for new educators as students and staff push through the challenges.