The Gary Community School Corporation – which is the public school district in Gary, Ind. – has entered into a partnership with Proximity Learning to provide virtual teachers as the school system looks to fill teaching vacancies.
Through the partnership, the school district will have access to up to 41 online teachers. Gary Schools said that classes taught by a virtual instructor will also have an in-person classroom facilitator to help with tech support and classroom management.
“It is our goal to hire in-person, highly qualified, licensed teachers! There are some teachers who have been on Emergency Permits for the timeframe allowed by the State of Indiana and can no longer renew their emergency status,” the school district said in a statement last week.
“While teachers are prepping and taking their exams for licensure, the Gary Community School Corporation has engaged Proximity Learning to supply Licensed, highly qualified virtual teachers to help address the teacher shortage, which happens to be a nationwide issue,” it added.
The district clarified that the contractual agreement allows Gary Schools to be charged only for the number of virtual teachers needed. Additionally, once a licensed teacher is hired for an in-person role, the service of the virtual instructor will end.
Gary Schools emphasized that the goal is to have “all in-person, licensed teachers,” but it is leveraging technology in the meantime to help fill its teaching gaps.
The school district is currently hiring for teaching positions, classroom facilitators, and other support roles.
“We are looking for educators who are not only highly qualified but who also have the heart, vision, and dedication to help our students thrive,” Yvonne Stokes, superintendent of Gary Community School Corporation, said in a press release earlier this month. “Our teachers are the backbone of our schools and the most essential drivers of student success.”
