Nicola Soares

Senior Vice President & President of Kelly Education, Kelly -cl A

Search every verified Nicola Soares interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Nicola Soares, president of Kelly Education, has continued to speak publicly about the teacher shortage and the role of staffing in education. In podcast appearances throughout 2025, she described the demand for substitute teachers as being at an "all-time high" and characterized the teacher shortage as a "national crisis." Soares stated that the shortage was underway prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and has since intensified, noting that in some states, entry-level teacher salaries are around $35,000 while many teachers carry significant student loan debt. She has advocated for reimagining teaching as a "sustainable, highly respected career path" with competitive pay, clear advancement opportunities, and investment in teacher well-being. Soares has also discussed the expansion of Kelly Education's services, which now include placing specialized talent such as adjunct professors, tutors, therapists, and nurses in academic settings from early childhood through higher education. She noted that the company recently acquired the executive search agency Greenwood Asher and Associates. Soares serves as the executive sponsor for Kelly's Leadership and Action Program and the Kelly Latinx Affinity Group. She has encouraged those interested in substitute teaching to visit the website wakeupand.com for more information.