AUSTIN, Texas, July 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Many districts ask this question each July as the new school year closes in: How are we going to find the highly qualified teachers we need for the following school year? Typically the answers have been to increase class size, cancel classes, add self-paced online classes, or place unqualified teachers or aides in front of students.
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As any educator knows, the most important element of a student's success is the actual teacher in front of that class. Over the past five years, School Districts around the country have been upgrading their technology infrastructure and computing devices due to PARCC, Teacher evaluation, or One to One initiatives. This has supported the emergence of "Virtual K-12 Staffing."
Virtual K-12 Staffing is when a highly qualified teacher is streamed into a class during or after school hours to instruct the given course program using the district curriculum. Typically there is an aide, sub, or teacher in the class for classroom management, but all the instruction comes from the online teacher. Each student sits in front of their own computing device and can actually see and hear the teacher, and the teacher can see and hear each student.
Texas seems to be leading the country in adopting this new method of instruction with over 40 districts implementing this new process. The Former Texas Commissioner of Education, Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Mike Moses stated:
"I have witnessed the growing demand from districts for highly qualified teachers to compete in the global community. When I saw Virtual K-12 Staffing, I not only saw a wonderful option, but also an instructional delivery method that could represent how learning will take place in the future."
One of the leading companies in this field is Proximity Learning Inc., based in Austin, TX. Their CEO, Evan Erdberg stated:
"Virtual K-12 Staffing is not a way to replace teachers, but to provide a highly qualified teacher when one cannot be found. Every student, no matter where they live or their economic situation, is entitled to the same quality of instruction, and should be offered the same options. Now, for the first time in history, we can use technology to place a great teacher in front of every student."
Having an actual teacher in front of a class is the ideal, however, when that option is not available, streaming a highly qualified live teacher into the classroom is the next best option.
Contact: Evan Erdberg, [email protected]
SOURCE Proximity Learning Inc.
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