The shortage and uneven distribution of teachers in public schools remains a problem in various regions of Indonesia, including the city of Surabaya. This study aims to explore how the work environment and motivation influence the availability of teachers as educators in public schools. Using a mixed-methods approach, the researcher conducted in-depth interviews with three teachers at SDN 1 Kalijudan Surabaya, one of the schools facing a shortage of teaching staff, with only 13 teachers aged between 40 - 60 years old. The data was analyzed to identify patterns related to teachers' perceptions, challenges, and motivations. The findings indicate that an unsupportive work environment, such as a high student-teacher ratio, increases the workload on teachers. This study concludes that the work environment and work motivation are important factors influencing teachers' presence and commitment.