ESSER Funding Cliff Explained: Why Teachers Are Losing Paychecks and Positions

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If Teachers Ruled the World

Leah Cleary

20 episodes

4 days ago

The podcast where real teachers get real. No Pinterest perfection. No out-of-touch theory. Just honest talk about what teaching actually looks like—failures, wins, and everything in between. Hosted by Leah Cleary, a 25-year classroom veteran who says what we’re all thinking. If you're burned out, doubting yourself, or sick of impossible expectations, you're not alone—and you're not broken. Let’s give teachers a voice. New episodes weekly. Finally, someone’s saying what teachers are thinking.

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ESSER Funding Cliff Explained: Why Teachers Are Losing Paychecks and Positions

If Teachers Ruled the World

11 minutes 52 seconds

1 month ago

ESSER Funding Cliff Explained: Why Teachers Are Losing Paychecks and Positions

Delayed paychecks? Pink slips? The ESSER funding cliff may be to blame. In this Teacher Reality Check, Leah breaks down what happened when $190 billion in federal COVID relief for schools started drying up. And how sudden policy reversals in 2025 left states, districts, and teachers scrambling.

Hear how reimbursement freezes triggered budget crises, why Maryland and Illinois were hit hardest, and what experts predict for layoffs, salaries, and staffing through 2026.

Real numbers, real teachers, real impact. This episode connects the dots between education policy and what’s happening in your school right now.

Full show notes and resources at leahcleary.com/podcast