CSIU Experts: Current Teacher Shortage Beyond Crisis Level
NEW COLUMBIA – The teacher shortage in the Valley and nationwide is now moving beyond the initial crisis level, but the local CSIU is working to find solutions.
CSIU Executive Director Dr. John Kurelja says there are a number of factors, including society’s view of education not being a good profession to enter, but they are trying to change that, “There are success stories all across our Valley, and we’re committed to telling those stories. The next thing about our area is that rural schools might not have the highest salaries. It used to be that in elementary education, you’d get 150 applicants for one job, now you’re seeing 20, and 10 of those might be viable candidates.”
CSIU Chief Academic Officer Dr. Alan Hack says districts around the area have been forced to be creative navigating the teacher shortage, as there are also a lack of substitute teachers, “Some are using flip classrooms, where teachers are putting things online, though we know that face-to-face, in-person instruction is the best possible solution. We’re also seeing districts are perhaps sharing resources, and sharing their teachers to ensure that students have access to the same opportunities regardless of their home district.”
Dr. Hack adds some districts have to use administrators to cover classrooms or teachers are taking on extra coverage of classrooms.
Dr. Hack says the CSIU is working on some solutions, most notably through its newly created Teacher Academy pilot with Luzerne County Community College for its districts, “Where the IU is going to fund two courses in the fall and the spring for rising juniors and seniors for free in education fields. So we’re starting to build that pipeline that they can start earning money potentially by working as a paraeducator in our program.”
You can hear more about the current teacher situation from the CSIU on the WKOK.com Podcast Page or wherever you listen to podcasts.
