As state and federal lawmakers continue to push bills that put restrictions on what can be taught in classrooms, it's becoming harder to find people willing to navigate teaching your children. 

The challenges facing teachers are no secret. All over the country, shortages and roadblocks placed in educators' way. 

Over 30 jobs are needed at the school districts that participated in the event.

“We’re really struggling right now to find teachers. That’s not just unique to us, that’s across the state. So, we have to get more adaptive and find more creative ways to find teachers,” said Steve Mines, human resources supervisor at the ESC of Eastern Ohio. “Every year, it becomes more difficult, so we got to get a little more creative in what we're looking for. A trend that we've done in recent years is maybe someone who may not be in a certain field, but we can find an alternative pathway to get into the fields that we are hiring for.”

While more flexibility for teachers is bringing more applicants, it's also causing many to leave and seek other opportunities.

“There’s a lot more flexibility, freedom to move from district to district. For many many years, once an employee got hired, you’d see them stay there for a while,” said Mines.

Alyssa Bush, early elementary intervention specialist at Struthers Elementary School, is a first year teacher. She said the pay is also driving some teachers away from the field.

“I know that is a big factor for a lot of people, but truthfully if you really have the heart for education, you're not in it for the money, you're in it for the progress that you see your kids make,” said Bush.

Bush feels that starting teaching can be overwhelming for some people, but also feels it’s worth it.

“As a first year teacher, you have to learn everything for the first time. So you're learning a new curriculum, you’re learning student behaviors and behavior management programs. And there's a lot of different things you have to really overcome,” said Bush.

The shortage also comes at a time when politics, from the state and federal government, has taken center stage. This includes potential changes to school funding and the uncertainty surrounding the U.S. Department of Education.

One teacher who's been in the field for 12 years says technology also plays a role. 

“Technology has changed a lot. You know, when I first started, we would do circle time at the carpet with everything on the board. Now we do a smartboard which I feel is very important for students to use technology when they advance to kindergarten,” said Theresa Horvath, preschool intervention specialist.

There were 22 school districts that participated in the ESC job fair. Many of the job openings in valley districts are in special education.