The Education Market Correction: Why Great Teachers Aren’t Getting Hired (And What to Do About It)

Over the past few months, I’ve spoken with dozens of educators who are frustrated. Despite  their experience, degrees, and passion, they’re being ghosted by employers or locked out of  roles they’re more than qualified for. Why? The answer lies in a quiet but powerful shift  happening across the entire education industry. 

Just like the stock market, education is correcting itself after a period of unsustainable growth. 

Fueled by nearly $190 billion in ESSER and ESSER II funds, schools were flush with cash. Purchasing was easy. 

Budgets were inflated. 

Even mediocre products were flying off shelves. 

But now? 

• The funding cliff has arrived. 

• PO volume is dropping. 

• Districts are entering a period of “wait and see”. 

This correction isn’t just about funding—it's impacting people. Specifically, educators trying to  transition out of the classroom. 

And here’s the hard truth: 

• Degrees, certifications, and decades of classroom excellence aren’t translating into  offers. 

• Hiring managers are pulling back. Job descriptions are narrowing. 

• Classroom experience is often undervalued or misunderstood by corporate recruiters. I hear it all the time:

“I have my master’s degree and years of leadership experience—why can’t I get a callback?” 

Because we’re in a psychological and economic shift. 

Buyers (districts) are cautious. 

Sellers (vendors, hiring managers) are conservative. 

Nobody wants to make the wrong move. 

Just like in any correction, the easy wins are gone. 

You now have to:  

• Prove ROI 

• Translate experience into results 

• Fit into new buyer psychology 

A Few Data Points to Ground This: 

• ESSER funding added ~$190B to the market between 2020–2024. That money is drying  up now. 

• The Learning Policy Institute reports the end of ESSER will shrink federal funding from  13.2% back to 8% of all K–12 spending. 

• Norwalk Public Schools alone are forecasting a $7.8 million shortfall next year due to  ESSER’s end. 

• In the job market, the average time-to-fill for education-adjacent roles has increased,  and recruiters are reporting "application fatigue" — too many applicants, not enough  clarity. 

If You’re an Educator in Transition, Here’s What You Need to Know: 

1. You’re not the problem — the system is correcting. 

The flood of opportunities was inflated. Now it’s receding. 

2. Translate your story. 

Classroom skills = leadership, project management, data fluency, stakeholder  communication. 

3. Build your value narrative. 

How did your work improve outcomes? Cut waste? Drive results? 

4. Prepare for a slower hiring process. 

Decisions are taking longer, and more people are involved. Stay the course.

5. Get help mapping your next move. 

Whether that’s coaching, resume help, or AI-powered tools — don’t do it alone. This is a market correction, not a personal failure. 

Whether you’re selling to schools or trying to get hired outside of them — success now requires  clarity, value, and strategy. 

Let’s stop pretending it’s business as usual. 

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If you're an educator navigating this correction and exploring your next chapter, you're not  alone. Let's connect.