Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Staff Shortage

    Posted 01-09-2023 11:30 PM
    Hello! I'm wondering what other educators are doing when faced with a shortage of staff/paraprofessionals to work in your classroom? I teach preschool- special education for my district and have been short 1 paraprofessional this entire school year and just found out that the 1 I've had is putting in her 2 weeks! 🫣 How is everyone else handling these situations out there? Is it happening to you too?

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    Sarah Birch
    Preschool Teacher
    Ogden City School District
    North Ogden UT
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  • 2.  RE: Staff Shortage

    Posted 01-11-2023 02:40 PM
    Sarah-
     You are not alone! There are numerous shortages all over. This year we are starting to rebuild by offering incentives and bonuses and trying to keep staff with extra incentives. Its been rough. Most of us have been filling in and doing double duty but are just now starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully you will too!

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    Elisa Schleig
    Education Manager
    SCCAA Head Start
    Massillon OH
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  • 3.  RE: Staff Shortage

    Posted 01-11-2023 06:35 PM
    Thank you everyone for your suggestions! I'm hoping my School District can see that we're all drowning without adequate support and make positive changes to entice people to stay with us or even apply. --
    -Sarah Birch

     






  • 4.  RE: Staff Shortage

    Posted 01-13-2023 02:30 AM
    A school district program I worked with in California had an effective solution.  When there were staff shortages and a classroom would be out-of-ratio for the day (e.g., one teacher and no aid for 18 children, only the first 8 children to arrive were accepted so as to maintain a 1:8 adult-child ratio.  The remaining 10 children were turned away for the day.  Needless to say, the parents complained loudly and the staffing shortage problem was immediately elevated to the highest level in the District.

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    John Gunnarson
    Woodacre CA
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  • 5.  RE: Staff Shortage

    Posted 01-11-2023 07:52 PM
    Yes, it's happening all over I'm afraid. Fortunately for Michigan we are able to use the services of temporary staffing agencies when they have qualified staff.