Florida schools are having trouble finding new teachers and the state education commission is blaming some of the old ones.
Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart says most of the teachers who could steer promising students into the profession are telling them to look elsewhere.
"Our high school teachers are not encouraging our students to go into this profession," she said.
Sumter County School Superintendent Richard Shirley says teachers are discouraged because they have to deal with a myriad of testing requirements, accountability programs, salary limits... and can make more money by leaving the profession.
He notes that, "whatever the cause, the impact is real."
He says most counties are having trouble finding enough qualified candidates.