Washington, D.C. (Commonwealth Union)_Leaders of the biggest school district in Virginia, United States, are collaborating with the Barbados Ministry of Education to investigate the prospect of hiring teachers from the Caribbean island to help fill the system’s teacher shortfall.
Superintendent Michelle Reid stated that the county is looking into “developing a partnership in an effort to bring excellent teachers to Fairfax County”, in an email to the Fairfax County School Board that was received by WTOP through a Freedom of Information Act request. According to Reid, the agreement under discussion is an effort to help the Division with its teacher shortage. Prior to the start of the academic year, Reid claimed that instructor posts were 99% filled.
In the midst of widespread staffing issues, the programme is the most recent instance of school districts in the Washington, D.C. area examining various approaches to hire new teachers and staff workers. Two current Fairfax County teachers who immigrated from Barbados in 1995 and who later attained citizenship gave rise to the concept, according to Reid.
Last month, the county informed Barbados education officials that it is thinking of a three-phase partnership strategy. Phase 2 includes recruitment efforts and Fairfax County preparations for infrastructure, including assistance with housing, and is tentatively anticipated for June 2023–June 2024. According to the presentation’s proposed schedule, an exchange programme would start in June 2024.
The Fairfax County school administration is anticipated to present to the Barbados teachers union after learning more about the nation’s educational system at a meeting this month.
Barbadians have been permitted to apply for jobs in the county since September, and they can still do so from November through March. According to the presentation, officials from both jurisdictions are organising monthly meetings to learn more about how transitions for interested teachers may be “affordable and seamless”.
Teachers who are interested must have a degree that has been authorised by the Virginia Department of Education as well as course transcripts. Before applying for jobs in the county, they would need to apply for a formal statement of eligibility paperwork from the state and meet the requirements for one of the state’s alternate pathways to earning a licence.
