Bibb County Schools look to virtual teachers to fill classroom vacancies. What we know
Teacher shortages in Georgia public schools remain an issue, and some districts including Bibb County are looking to virtual teachers to solve the problem.
The Bibb County Board of Education agreed last week to enter into a contract with Elevate K-12, an education company that will provide live, virtual instruction and fill teacher vacancies within the Bibb County School District.
“The teachers will provide live Tier I teaching to ensure that the students receive instruction from virtual teachers using the District’s curriculum materials,” Emmanuel Frazier, BCSD assistant superintendent of human resources, said at Thursday’s board meeting.
All teachers sourced through Elevate K-12 will be certified in the assigned content area, Frazier added.
With the approved contract, six existing teacher vacancies will be filled at Bruce Elementary, Ingram-Pye Elementary, Heard Elementary, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Rutland Middle and Weaver Middle schools.
Bibb County Schools will also use the company to fill other vacant positions, where possible, according to a district memorandum.
This would not be the board’s first time approving and relying on online staff to fill teacher vacancies. A pilot program was launched in 2016 with Proximity Learning, an online education provider based in Austin, Texas.
The trial concept garnered favor at Weaver Middle, one of the schools designated to receive a livestreamed instructor at last week’s board meeting.
The district’s 2024 teacher retention rate lags behind statewide, P-20 area, and the Middle Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency rates, according to previous reporting from The Telegraph.
BCSD Superintendent Dan Sims has often said the district’s goals include retaining and attracting high-quality teachers in order to reduce teacher turnover and remain a competitive employer in Middle Georgia. Sims was not present during the conference.
Board member Sundra Woodford asked Frazier if he had any concerns about the quality of the virtual teachers.
Frazier replied that he doesn’t, noting that other school districts in Douglas and Doughtery counties highly recommended the company.
“Their teachers on average have 13 years of experience, and over 80% of their teachers have advanced degrees,” Frazier said about the company. “So, I really feel confident that we’re going to get a viable, virtual teacher for our students.”
Frazier added that the virtual teachers will be used for the remainder of the 2024-2025 academic year.
The sudden decision to contract with Elevate K-12 came after the district experienced minor delays in the arrival of newly hired international teachers via the H-1B visa procedure.
Elevate K-12 has worked with more than 600 districts, BCSD school officials said.
The contract with Elevate K-12 would not exceed $274,120.