As new school year looms, PSRC struggles to fill teaching vacancies

Aug. 20—LUMBERTON — The Public Schools of Robeson County is facing a teacher shortage as it prepares to welcome students Monday for the start of the new school year, but is working hard to ensure students get a quality education.

The PSRC has "a multitude of teachers" nearing retirement in the next few years, and quite a few vacancies, according to the school district.

"The teacher shortage is real, large and growing, and worse than we thought," said Robert Locklear, PSRC assistant superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability.

There are about 90 teacher vacancies, leaving roles to be filled by substitute teachers, he said.

"For every classroom without a certified teacher, substitutes have been hired to serve in the role until certified teachers are available for employment. Curriculum supervisors and academic coaches will provide instructional support to meet the needs of all learners," said Melissa Thompson, assistant superintendent of PSRC's Human Resources department.

In order to fill teacher vacancies, the school system is offering a $3,000 sign-on bonus to all new hires in subject areas that are "considered hard to staff," including K-6, mathematics, science, English/language arts, exceptional children, or English language learners, according to PSRC officials.

"The sign-on bonuses are provided through federal funds known as Title II. Title II funds can be used to provide supplemental activities that strengthen the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals and other school leaders," Locklear said.

The school district also has a growing shortage of mathematics teachers.

There are 17 mathematics-teacher vacancies in the district, according to Gordon Burnette, PSRC Chief Communications officer.

On Aug. 10 the PSRC Board of Education approved a Mathematics Employment Agreement that allows certified math teachers from middle and high schools to teach other students via video during their planning period. A substitute teacher will be in the classroom with the students, but the agreement ensures all students receive instruction from a certified teacher. The school district has implemented the program in past school years.

"Our goal is to make sure every student enrolled in a mathematics course receives daily instruction from a certified mathematics teacher," said Catrina Bailey, PSRC Mathematics supervisor.

Thirteen schools will transmit mathematics instruction to seven schools with high needs, Burnette said.

Larry Brooks, principal of Lumberton Senior High School, will collaborate with three of his teachers to help provide instruction to students in other schools, like Red Springs High.

Pembroke Middle School Principal Anthony Barton also said his school was glad to help bridge the gap through the Mathematics Employment Agreement.

"Our school is very excited about sharing the high-quality math instruction our students enjoy with other schools in our district. We know that the shortage of math teachers in our state right now is critical. We also know that students deserve high-quality math instruction in our classrooms every day, and we are ready to share that with our sister schools in Robeson County," Barton said.

The school district's vacancies are impacted by teachers who retire and staffing changes, according to Blair Rhoades, Communications director at N.C. Department of Public Instruction.

"Staffing changes that PSRC has made in order to leverage highly effective teachers to provide robust coaching and mentoring to early career teachers has increased the need for classroom teachers this year," Rhoades said.

However, the vacancies don't exist exclusively in Robeson County. Areas across the nation also are facing vacancies, including North Carolina as a whole.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, areas across North Carolina this school year are facing teacher shortages for Elementary Education core subjects: math, language arts, science, social studies and all special education courses.

The North Carolina Association of Educators joined others on Aug. 13 urging lawmakers at the state level "to pass a better state budget that addresses a chronic problem of teaching vacancies in rural counties," according to the NCAE.

The Association wants a 2021 budget that raises working wages for school custodians, teaching assistants and others to $15 an hour "like all other state employees," supports the addition of more instructional support vocations and funds improvements to school facilities through a statewide school bond, according to the NCAE.

The average number of teachers who choose to walk away from the occupation each year is between 7,000 and 8,000, Rhoades said. The numbers within the past three years are "remarkably stable."

"The number of teaching vacancies statewide has always been remarkably stable. By late September the statewide teacher vacancy rate is typically 1-1.5%. That is a low rate, and we're working very hard to ensure that remains as close to zero as possible," she said.

"The vacancies in existence aren't anything out of the norm or unusual, when compared to the entire population of individuals needed to educate NC public schools," Rhoades added.

Billie Jo Harris, PSRC Director of Licensure, said that in order to qualify as an educator in North Carolina, candidates must complete the required undergraduate coursework, pass the requisite standardized examinations and complete a state-approved teacher preparation program.

PSRC is working with local colleges, like The University of North Carolina at Pembroke and Robeson Community College, to address the need for more certified educators.

"We continue to work very closely with Robeson Community College and UNCP to collaborate on how they can assist PSRC with meeting the teacher shortage by developing teacher residencies, which have been successful in recruiting talented candidates into high-need fields to work as paid apprentices to skilled, expert teachers," Locklear said.

The school district also uses "high school career pathways" to recruit and support local teachers, he said.

The State Department of Public Instruction "continues to have ongoing conversations with EEPs (Educator Preparation Programs) to address the needs of teacher recruitment and retention," Rhoades said.

Team members focus on those areas as they travel to different school districts, Rhoades said.

"The Public Schools of Robeson County is committed to maintaining a clear focus on what is most important to all of us — our students. Each of our schools will create a student-focused learning environment by providing our students with individualized instruction designed to meet their diverse needs, supporting our students' mental and emotional health, and exposing our students to authentic learning opportunities that empower and inspire them to become future-ready," PSRC Superintendent Freddie Williamson wrote in a letter to parents and students dated Aug. 13.