California made strides attracting new teachers before the pandemic, but the number of new teaching credentials went down 16% in 2021-22 and 14% in 2022-23.

In a 2022 UCLA study, one in five California teachers said they would probably or definitely leave the profession in the next three years — because of burnout, low pay, student apathy and behavioral issues.

Still, thousands of people earn their credentials each year, and thousands of students are passionate about becoming teachers and are working toward that goal. Student journalist Clara Brownstein set out to find out what motivates them to enter the profession.

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Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.