School is about to be starting back and with that comes challenges for educators and administrators.
Louisiana Association of School Superintendents Executive Director Mike Faulk says preparation for the new school year has already started for teachers and administrators.
“They’re meeting with staff, having back-to-school meetings, and then people are getting the classrooms ready. They are printing discipline handbooks so there’s a lot going on right now,” he said.
Faulk says there are many challenges that schools are facing, and one is looking at school performance scores from last year and addressing the issues for the upcoming year.
“They’re going to have to be looking at what are some things can they do to help improve the academic achievement of students at individual schools,” said Faulk.
Another challenge for schools is staffing shortages with many schools still trying to fill open position with certified teachers and administration openings as well.
Faulk says finding teachers now is difficult, but when principals are retiring and that position is filled with a teacher, “the that spot becomes vacant. So, it’s a domino effect all the way down.”
According to the National Education Association, 80 percent of teachers report having to take on extra tasks to make up for staffing shortages.
