As COVID-19 Absences Soar, Caddo Parents Are Being Asked to Teach

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As the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be ramping up once again thanks to the Omicron variant, familiar staffing issues in schools are back as well.  With more and more regular teaching staff out because they have or have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, school administrators are once again forced with making a plan to fill vacancies left by teachers who are out due to the virus.

The problem really boils down to the amount of substitutes available, and unfortunately - the number of subs is at an all time low as well.

Administrators with the Caddo Parish School System have come up with an plan to fill  the gap - and it involves you and me.  More specifically, KSLA is reporting that district leadership is asking parents in Caddo Parish to step up to the plate and stand in as the substitute teachers that the district desperately needs.  According to the report, the district is looking for parents with associates and bachelor degrees to fill the spots - but at this point, they will even take those with a high school diploma.

The teacher shortage affecting school districts around the country were occurring before the pandemic, but obviously that made the situation worse.  Caddo parish is just the latest in a long line of school systems that have reached out to parents in order to keep the schools open.  School districts in Texas were recently reported to be trying the same strategy to try and keep teachers in classes.