MILWAUKEE — After several unprecedented school years thanks to COVID-19, schools across Wisconsin are preparing for a more normal school year ahead, even as the pandemic continues to sputter along.

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"Our school district leaders are very competent and they're going to do everything to ensure that our students and our staff this school year," Dr. Jill Underly, the state superintendent of public instruction, said.

In addition to challenges still presented by COVID-19, schools across the country and many in Wisconsin are also facing a teacher shortage as the new year begins.

"There certainly are school districts that are struggling to get staff in front of the kids, but they're doing the best that they can," Underly added. "At the [Department of Public Instruction], what we're doing is we're trying to promote the channels that exist already and encouraging people to become licensed teachers."

Watch the full interview above.