For Star subscribers: Some math lessons in Tucson Unified School District could be streamed onto classroom screens by teachers from a Chicago-based company because the district is struggling to find enough teachers here.
Genesis Lara Some math lessons in Tucson Unified School District could be streamed onto classroom screens by teachers from a Chicago-based company because the district is struggling to find enough teachers here.
The contract, potentially for $780,000, would cost significantly less than the approximate $1.77 million it would cost the district to fill all 24 vacancies. Board members have not yet taken action on the matter, as the district is still focusing on recruiting additional teachers. But Huitt said it was important to discuss in case the district needs to contract with Elevate K-12 in time for the first day of school on Aug. 4.
“It created a lot of burnout, a lot of employee anxiety and frustration as they were taken away from their primary duties and moved into, essentially, substitute roles, so we want to make sure we don’t replicate that mistake again,” Trujillo told the Arizona Daily Star. Lenhart said Elevate's curriculums align with Common Core and state-specific standards. In addition, she said, the company would work with the district to ensure the lessons also align with TUSD's math curriculum guidelines.
Huitt said Elevate offers the district the opportunity to both relieve teachers of the heavy workload to prevent burnout, and ensures that students always have a certified teacher to present the material. Reactions to more virtual learning Christina Berry, mother of an incoming sophomore student at Pueblo High School, one of the schools on the list of vacancies, said she understands why the district had to turn to this potential solution.
"If it's math only and it's that one period and they're going to be in a classroom supervised while a teacher is teaching them online, I think that's OK," Berry said. Teacher costs are the sameThe cost of an Elevate teacher wouldn’t be much different than the cost of an average salary for a TUSD teacher, she said.
She added that Elevate would also be responsible for replacing any of its absent teachers, rather than the schools and TUSD teachers scrambling to find a last-minute replacement. Trujillo said TUSD had already advertised vacancies for teacher assistant positions that were budgeted in the original fiscal year 2023 budget proposal, prior to considering the Elevate K-12 partnership.
"A lot of teachers left this past year because it was ridiculously overwhelming. The amount of work that was compounded on everybody's plate was just horrendous," she said, referring to teacher meetings, pressure over testing, collecting new data and dealing with behavioral issues inside the classroom.
Collection: Read more by Arizona Daily Star reporter Genesis Lara Get the latest in Tucson education news. Education alert top story Tucson Unified sees second year of high demand for summer courses Parents concerned about learning gaps during the pandemic enrolled their children in summer school in high numbers, officials say.
Education alert top story Registration period opens for Tucson-area school board candidates Education news in brief, including: Seats open up for school governing boards; and local preschool earns quality recognition. Education alert top story Marana school district offers free meals during summer Education news briefs, also including scholarships granted to graduating seniors in Tucson-area high schools.
Education alert top story Teachers, staff to get pay increases in Tucson Unified School District The TUSD governing board has unanimously approved increasing teacher salaries by up to $14,550 a year. Education alert top story Tucson Kino Rotary gives out Character Award to 7 students Education news briefs, also including: Rattlesnake Ridge Elementary gets new principal and Empire High teacher recognized for excellence.
Education Tucson-area teacher surprised with award for success during pandemic Flowing Wells' Hendricks Elementary teacher Saraí Martinez receives 2022 Esperanza Latino Teacher Award for leading students to high scores and connecting with families.
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