parents-monitor-classrooms-to-solve-staff-shortages

Parents monitor classrooms to solve staff shortages

Lifestyle

STACEY: IN JOHNSTON, CLASSES ARE ALREADY BEING OFFERED IN PERSON FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND DOZENS OF PARENTS ARE STEPPING UP TO KEEP STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM. KCCI’S TOMMIE CLARK SHOWS US HOW THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES. TOMMIE: COUNTING CARDS AND WRITING ON WHITEBOARDS. THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM AFTER MOVING BETWEEN LEARNING MODELS AS COVID-19 EDGED ITS WAY IN AND OUT OF CENTRAL IOWA COMMUNITIES INCLUDING JOHNSTON. >> IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO CONTINUE TO WATCH KIDS FALLING BEHIND. TOMMIE: SARAH ANDERSON HAS FOUR KIDS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. SHE STEPPED UP WHEN THE SCHOOLS CLOSED. >> THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS. TOMMIE: SHE CONNECTED WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PARENTS TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN. A PITCHED AN IDEA TO THE DISTRICT AND AFTER SOME RESISTANCE, AFTER THE BREAK, A CLASSROOM MONITOR POSITION WAS CREATED. >> WHEN A TEACHER WOULD NEED TO QUARANTINE DUE TO AN EXPOSURE OF COVEID, THAT HIRED PARENT WOULD MONITOR THE CLASSROOM WHILE THE TEACHER TEACHES THE INSTRUCTION REMOTELY. TOMMIE: SHE SAYS MORE THAN 40 PARENTS HAVE APPLIED SO FAR AND SOME HAVE STARTED TO ENTER THE CLASSROOM. THIS MOM SAYS IT IS PARAMOUNT TO PARENTS FOR MORE REASONS THAN ONE THAT THIS CONTINUES IN IOWA SCHOOLS. >> WHAT IT MEANS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO THE KIDS. THAT PART GETS EMOTIONAL. IT HAS BEEN SO HARD FOR OUR KIDS. TOMMIE: IN JOHNSTON, TOMMIE CLARK. STACEY: JOHNSTON SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE SEVERAL ADVANTAGES TO THE NEW POSITION. IT ALLOWS TEACHERS

Johnston parents monitor classrooms to solve staff shortages

Dozens of Johnston parents are stepping up, to keep classes in-person. KCCI’s Tommie Clark has how they’re working with the district to overcome COVID-19 obstacles.Thousands of Iowa students are back in the classroom, after moving between learning models, as COVID-19 edged its way in and out of central Iowa communities. That includes Johnston.“It was just heartbreaking to continue to watch kids fall behind,” said Johnston parent, Sara Anderson.Anderson has four kids in the Johnston district. In November, when school buildings closed, mainly due to staff shortages, she stepped up.“They said they had a staff shortage, and then on top of that, they didn’t have enough substitute teachers to cover the absences,” said Anderson.So Anderson connected with hundreds of other parents to see what they could do to keep schools open. They pitched an idea to the district, and after some resistance, by winter break, a classroom monitor position was created, complete with an application process and a paycheck.“When a teacher would need to quarantine due to an exposure of COVID, that hired parent would partner with that teacher, and the hired parent would monitor the classroom, while the teacher teaches the instruction remotely,” said Anderson.Anderson says more than 40 parents have applied so far, and some have started to enter the classroom.“What it means more, is just what it means to the kids. That part just gets emotional, because it’s just been so hard for our kids,” said Anderson.Those with Johnston Schools say there are several advantages to the new position. They say it not only allows teachers to telework if needed, but also lessens the need to close school again due to potential staffing shortages.

JOHNSTON, Iowa —

Dozens of Johnston parents are stepping up, to keep classes in-person. KCCI’s Tommie Clark has how they’re working with the district to overcome COVID-19 obstacles.

Thousands of Iowa students are back in the classroom, after moving between learning models, as COVID-19 edged its way in and out of central Iowa communities. That includes Johnston.

“It was just heartbreaking to continue to watch kids fall behind,” said Johnston parent, Sara Anderson.

Anderson has four kids in the Johnston district. In November, when school buildings closed, mainly due to staff shortages, she stepped up.

“They said they had a staff shortage, and then on top of that, they didn’t have enough substitute teachers to cover the absences,” said Anderson.

So Anderson connected with hundreds of other parents to see what they could do to keep schools open. They pitched an idea to the district, and after some resistance, by winter break, a classroom monitor position was created, complete with an application process and a paycheck.

“When a teacher would need to quarantine due to an exposure of COVID, that hired parent would partner with that teacher, and the hired parent would monitor the classroom, while the teacher teaches the instruction remotely,” said Anderson.

Anderson says more than 40 parents have applied so far, and some have started to enter the classroom.

“What it means more, is just what it means to the kids. That part just gets emotional, because it’s just been so hard for our kids,” said Anderson.

Those with Johnston Schools say there are several advantages to the new position. They say it not only allows teachers to telework if needed, but also lessens the need to close school again due to potential staffing shortages.