BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Public school teacher retirements spiked this past year, with significantly more educators leaving than in recent years.
A total of 3,570 teachers along with other K-12 education employees retired this year, up from 3,094 in 2024 and 2,810 in 2023 – surpassing the peak retirement numbers seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Superintendent Eric Mackey told board members recently that the increase in retirements is worrisome, particularly in districts already struggling to find and recruit new teachers…