Amador County School Board Trustee: ‘All schools in California are affected by staff shortages’

Peter Gale, a member of the Amador County School Board of Trustees, said that California schools are grappling with staff shortages, citing 40 open certificated positions in the Amador district.

"All schools in California are affected by staff shortages," said Gale, School Board Candidate. "According to Ed Join, Amador schools currently have 40 certificated positions posted. There are 4 Special Ed jobs, one for science, band, AVID, PE, also for one elementary teacher, a school nurse, a counselor, mental health therapist. and of course the posting begging for substitute teachers."

California continues to face significant teacher shortages, particularly in high-need fields such as special education, mathematics, science, and bilingual education. According to the Learning Policy Institute, more than 10,000 underprepared teachers were issued intern credentials or permits in 2021–22. This reflects persistent gaps in the educator workforce. These shortages have led to increased reliance on underqualified staff and contribute to inequitable student access to fully prepared teachers.

As of early 2025, California's teacher hiring platform EdJoin lists thousands of open K–12 positions across the state. This includes over 500 vacancies in special education and more than 800 in STEM-related roles. The vacancies reflect ongoing recruitment difficulties, especially in rural counties like Amador. Job data from EdJoin is regularly updated and shows continued unmet demand in key subject areas.

According to MyPayMySay, teachers who opt out of union membership in California can save approximately $800 to $1,200 annually in dues. The organization notes that educators still retain benefits like liability insurance and legal support through alternative associations. The site states financial and political autonomy for teachers who choose to leave union representation.

Gale is a 26-year veteran secondary educator and longtime resident of Sutter Creek, California. He is running for the Amador County School Board representing District 4, which includes Pine Grove and Sutter Creek. Gale has highlighted improving communication between district leadership and the community as a key part of his platform.