MARY: FRAMINGHAM IS HARDLY UNIQUE, BUT THEY WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE HIRING FOR A MULTITUDE OF PHYSICIANS, TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF. THE DISTRICT SAYS THE PANDEMIC TOOK A TOLL ON TEACHERS. SOME DECIDED TO RETHINK THEIR CAREERS AND LEFT THE PROFESSION. FRAMINGHAM WILL START THEIR SCHOOL YOUR TOMORROW WITH A DEFICIT. >> FOR TOMORROW, I NEED 45 TEACHERS IN ALL DIFFERENT AREAS, AND IT IS MORE FOR THE SPECIALIZED SUBJECTS LIKE SPECIAL EDUCATION, GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, NURSES. IT’S BEEN A CHALLENGE. MARY: TEACHERS UNION RULES PROHIBIT LARGE CLASS SIZES AND ELIMINATING CLASSES, SO FRAMINGHAM IS USING UNLICENSED CAMPUS AIDS TO HELP WITH CAFETERIA AND BUS DUTY. THEY ARE WORKING WITH MENTORS WHO ARE VETERAN TEACHERS. FRAMINGHAM SAYS THEY ALSO NEED NURSES BADLY AND 37 SUPPORT STAFFERS, SO RECRUITMENT IS ONGOING.
Some Massachusetts schools face major staff shortage as new academic year begins
Updated: 9:39 PM EDT Aug 30, 2022
The city of Framingham is hardly unique when it comes to Massachusetts communities facing school staff shortages as the new academic year begins, but officials are trying to get the word out that they are hiring.Framingham Public Schools is looking to hire 45 teachers and 10 nurses, as well as fill 37 support staff positions.Tiago Gadens, the school district’s associate director of human resources, said the COVID-19 pandemic took a heavy toll on teachers. A lot of educators who were simply burned out either decided to retire or pursue different career paths.Framingham will start school on Wednesday and, like many districts in Massachusetts, will start the 2022-23 academic year with a staff deficit.”Right now, for tomorrow, I need 45 teachers in all different areas. And it’s more for the specialized subjects, such as special education, guidance (counselors). Nurses, it’s been a challenge. And bilingual teachers, as well, which is crucial for Framingham,” Gadens said Tuesday.Teacher union rules prohibit larger class sizes and eliminating classes, so Framingham Public Schools is using unlicensed campus aides to handle tasks such as cafeteria and bus duty.The school district is also creating its own pipeline of educators, working in partnership with Framingham State University and Lesley University to bring student-teachers into the classroom sooner for real-world experience with mentor educators.
The city of Framingham is hardly unique when it comes to Massachusetts communities facing school staff shortages as the new academic year begins, but officials are trying to get the word out that they are hiring.
Framingham Public Schools is looking to hire 45 teachers and 10 nurses, as well as fill 37 support staff positions.
Tiago Gadens, the school district’s associate director of human resources, said the COVID-19 pandemic took a heavy toll on teachers. A lot of educators who were simply burned out either decided to retire or pursue different career paths.
Framingham will start school on Wednesday and, like many districts in Massachusetts, will start the 2022-23 academic year with a staff deficit.
“Right now, for tomorrow, I need 45 teachers in all different areas. And it’s more for the specialized subjects, such as special education, guidance (counselors). Nurses, it’s been a challenge. And bilingual teachers, as well, which is crucial for Framingham,” Gadens said Tuesday.
Teacher union rules prohibit larger class sizes and eliminating classes, so Framingham Public Schools is using unlicensed campus aides to handle tasks such as cafeteria and bus duty.
The school district is also creating its own pipeline of educators, working in partnership with Framingham State University and Lesley University to bring student-teachers into the classroom sooner for real-world experience with mentor educators.
