Havre Public schools has implemented a unique strategy that involves hiring high school students to help mitigate the teacher shortage.
Brad Moore, the interim superintendent explains the strategy.
“When we realized we’re still facing a staffing shortage with teachers, we moved a step further and said, let’s put these students who have an interest in education and working with kids, put them in the classroom as a student para working with the teacher up to two hours a day just as a para would, and this fall we’ve had ten students that are doing that on a daily basis, two hours a day. They are getting paid by the district, just like any other para and also earning credits toward high school graduation. So, our long-term goal with that program is that they find a love of being involved in education, and if they attend college here at MSUN and major in education we will keep them on as paras on a part time basis to work around their college schedule and when they earn their degree in education, we hope they stay here, and we’ll hire them back as teachers. So, it’s a grow your own type of product and it’s been very successful.” – Brad Moore Interim Superintendent of Havre Public Schools
