meet students ’ social-emotional needs and find new ways to engage students virtually from home , all while continuing to juggle the variety of duties they perform under normal circumstances . In addition , many substitute teachers have not returned to work post-pandemic , leaving a large gap in school staffing . According to Hanover Research , prior to the COVID-19 pandemic , only 8 % of teachers in the U . S . reported themselves as likely to leave the profession . Now , that number is up to 33 %.
“ The pandemic laid bare our dependence on schools to provide community support along with educational , social , physical and nutritional services to children ,” says Debra Sullivan , a member of the West Virginia Board of Education . “ The breadth and depth of the work undertaken every day in schools across the state is often taken for granted .”
The teacher shortage in West Virginia does not mean that classrooms will be empty this coming school year .
“ Note that these are not classrooms without an instructor . Rather , these are classrooms not led by fully certified teachers ,” says Warren .
In an attempt to fill these teaching vacancies , West Virginia has developed provisional methods to place teachers into classrooms as well as some new programs to further encourage recruitment into the profession .
One licensure option encourages counties around the state to work with West Virginia colleges and universities to allow individuals who are currently enrolled in a stateapproved program to provisionally teach in areas of critical need . Another option allows college graduates with a bachelor ’ s degree to be considered for licensure based on their GPA , performance on licensure exams and completion of state-approved coursework . Other programs providing alternatives to certification are also in place in several West Virginia higher learning institutions .
The state of West Virginia will be launching a new program this school year called Grow Your Own Pathway , which will allow high school students to begin working
WVU Medicine St . Joseph ’ s Hospital and St . Joseph ’ s Hospital Foundation are honored to congratulate our Foundation Board Member , Robbie Skinner ,
on being inducted by West Virginia Executive into their ranks of Young Guns Class of 2023
Representing West Virginia ’ s next generation of leaders
2022 Campaign
Our Vision – Your Health
Advancing Surgical Services at
More Ways to Care , Right Here at Home . www . stj . net | 304-473-2000
Want to Donate ? www . stj . net → STJ Resources → Give to St . Joseph ’ s → 2022 Campaign
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