Gary students back at school with some virtual teachers

GARY, Ind. (WLS) — Back to school season is here.

Students in Gary, Indiana returned Thursday, and some students sat in classrooms while their teachers joined virtually.

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It’s an effort to address a teacher shortage.

But, the worst case scenario Gary Community Schools Corporation had prepared for did not materialize Thursday.

There were only about a dozen virtual teachers providing instruction throughout the district.

Officials say, despite some day one challenges, it’s so far, so good.

Many of the district’s educators were let go, mostly at the middle school level.

“With proximity, the actual teachers are considered master-level teachers. They’re highly qualified,” said Yvonne Stokes, with the district.

Last month, Gary Community Schools board approved the hiring of up to 48 virtual teachers after the decision was made that continuing to run a district where more than a third of the teachers were not fully licensed was not working.

“You can’t just have to have boots on the ground; you also have to have someone who understands the science of reading, who understands what it takes to support children and move the needle academically,” Stokes said.

Officials say, unlike virtual learning during the pandemic, students are in a classroom together, with the teacher on the screen and a co-instructor of sorts, a facilitator, to help out where needed.

“They are walking around. They are assisting the teacher that is on the screen to explain the content,” Gary Chief Academic Officer Cynthia Treadwell said.

And while district officials insist the arrangement is only temporary and virtual teachers can be let go with a 30-day notice, not everyone is happy with the situation. Indiana state Rep. Vernon Smith is a former principal who believes there simply aren’t enough fully licensed teachers available to hire at such a late date.

“A couple of those teachers that were let go have contacted me, and they asked me to write them letter of references because other schools are taking them. So I think we’re making a mistake,” said Smith, a Democrat who represents the 14th District.

District officials are standing by their decision, saying they are completing background checks on a handful of fully qualified teachers while helping others to complete their licensing requirements.