Early learning centers across Central Florida continue to suffer from a shortage of early learning teachers because of the global pandemic and other factors.

What You Need To Know

  • 1,800 early learning teachers needed to staff early learning centers across Orange County

  • At least 20,000 children in Orange County remain on waiting lists

  • One of the biggest issues is delays with background checks 

An estimated 1,800 early learning teachers are needed to staff early learning centers across Orange County, according to the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, a nonprofit that supports many of the county’s early learning centers.

That makes it harder for parents looking for childcare, experts say.

“It’s heart breaking to not be able to have a place to put your child,” said Sheena Hotaling, an early learning teacher at Conway Learning Center.

Hotaling, 35, began her career as an early learning teacher three years ago.

As a mother of three whose kids all attended the same early learning center she now works for, Hotaling understands the difference the facilities make to a child’s life.

“Children, I think all of us ladies that get involved in this field do it for the children,” Hotaling said.

Her classroom is made up of 2-year-olds — 16 of them, the maximum number for a classroom of that age group. It’s a classroom tens of thousands of area parents hope to get their children into.

The ELCOC reports the problem began in July when parents returned to work, just as many childcare teachers quit. Mary Harper, ELCOC Chief Program Officer, said early learning centers lost about 40% of their workforce. She said it could mean at least 20,000 children, in Orange County alone, will remain on waiting lists.

“Parents are having to make hard decisions,” Harper said. “Do they return to work or do they stay home with their children? And that’s a workforce issue for the state of Florida. It affects our tax revenues in this state and it affects our economy. So, early care and education is not just a family issue but an economic issue.”

Part of the struggles begin with early-learning teaching applicants taking longer to finish their necessary 45-course hours requirement. Without completing it, teachers can’t work alone with the kids.

“If you don’t have all you credentials that you need, then you don’t get all your pay,” Harper said.  

She said in order help early learning centers stay afloat and help with recruitment and retention of teachers, they approved more than $35 million in grants.

Some of the money went toward a pay raise for teachers, up to $18 an hour.

“That’s a nice incentive coming in knowing that they’ll get a new pay raise,” Hotaling said.

Paying workers a higher wage was just part of the challenge.

According to the ELCOC, another issue is delays with background checks, with some taking up to a month.

“And that’s valuable time we can have students inside our classrooms,” Hotaling said. 

Hotaling hopes things change soon, so others can help make an impact in a child’s life.

“I never wake up and say, ‘Oh man, I have to go to work,’" she said. "I get to work every day and love these children and make an impact in their lives.”

The ELCOC also reports it will pay early teaching applicants to complete their 45-course hours, in an effort to get them into the classroom sooner.  ​