It's no secret being a teacher in Arizona is not easy.
In many districts, class sizes are so big, resources so slim and the pay compared to the rest of the country is right at the bottom of the barrel.
It's so difficult that some teachers may be giving up.
The latest survey by the Arizona School Personnel Administration Association was released Tuesday afternoon. It's a barometer of just how dire the situation is for schools in the state, many of which continue to do incredible work despite the lack of resources provided by state leaders.
The survey of 172 districts and charters shows 866 teachers who abandoned or resigned from their position within the first four months of this school year, leaving the number of total vacancies in Arizona at 1,968.
That means increased class sizes and long-term subs filling the voids.
Compared to figures we received earlier in the school year, it's clear the situation is getting worse. In September, the number of teachers who had left their jobs was 526. Now another 340 have left.
The numbers don't help Gov. Doug Ducey's efforts to portray himself as the education governor.
The state of Arizona is currently investing $800 less on a child's education -- adjusted for inflation -- than it was a decade ago, according to a nonpartisan state analysis by Arizona Capitol Media Services.