IIn this episode, Trina introduces a continuation podcast discussing the teacher shortage crisis with Amanda and Dr. Paul Bruno, who co-authored an article attempting to quantify the problem. The discussion touches on the complexity and messiness of the data surrounding teacher shortages due to local control, where each district operates independently with little oversight. Dr. Bruno challenges the terms 'shortage' and 'crisis,' arguing that the data shows more teachers than ever, though they might not be in traditional classrooms. He also voices concerns about the press misrepresenting the issue, potentially leading to political agendas that dismantle public education. Trina and Dr. Bruno further discuss the difficulties of measuring the impact of teacher shortages on student outcomes and reflect on how specialized roles and new teachers affect classroom dynamics and effectiveness. The conversation concludes with insights into the need for targeted solutions, the limitations of current data, and the potential benefits of differential pay and elevating teacher leadership to address the crisis.