Written by Harrison Laws
The spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Washington State has led to quarantine and the subsequent switch to online learning.
On April 6 Governor Jay Inslee extended the closure of public and private schools until the end of the school year. As of today, 15,594 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Washington State, according to the Washington State Department of Health. Additionally, Governor Jay Inslee extended the stay at home order until the end of May, according to the Seattle Times
With no reported end date for the pandemic, some teachers have worried about how COVID-19 will affect job positions this fall.
The people who spoke from the district are feeling a bit concerned about how much the district receives from funding. Local businesses provide a lot of money to the Bellevue School District. Since many businesses are struggling or have been laying employees off, there may not be enough necessary funding for schools in the fall. They are really trying to make sure there is money in the reserves, said Stevenson Elementary Kindergarten Teacher Megan Moreno.
Though nothing official has been said, many teachers working at Stevenson Elementary are worried that if there are not enough students this fall due to COVID-19 not as many teachers will be needed. This has caused some stress amongst the teachers, said to Moreno.
“People are definitely worried that they will be transferred to another school, be furloughed, or teach a subject they are not comfortable in,” added Moreno.
The situation appears to be different at Wilks Elementary School in the Bainbridge Island School District compared to various districts around the state.
“As far as I understand it, there will be no impact on the future school year because of our signed contracts with the districts. We’re still interviewing candidates for positions next school year as if we were still in the building,” said Wilks Elementary School reading intervention teacher Amy Jernigan.
Though the teachers not under contract at Wilks Elementary will have to reinterview for a position, according to Jernigan.
Much of the information around the fall school year will not be available until the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) makes a statement. “I have heard everything from continuing an online model or a staggered school day. We probably won’t know until August,” added Jernigan.
For teachers that are not under contract or that have recently become eligible to teach it can be a stressful time.
Professors of Washington State University College of Education courses have discussed switching into a half in-class and half-online program. This may have an effect on student teaching positions, according to WSU College of Education Senior Katheryn Sheppard.
“I am slightly worried about finding a full-time teaching job. There are always substitute jobs though and other tutoring or part-time jobs I could work while searching for a better one,” said Sheppard.
“It is hard to say. Most school districts don’t know how they will proceed next year. Some teachers have been laid off at the school my mom teaches at in California,” added Shepard.
There have not been widespread reductions in the workforce across Washington state school districts. Though drops in enrollment, spikes in salary, and low retirement rates are all factors that led to layoffs in the Tacoma, Edmonds, and Evergreen school districts, according to the Seattle Times.
“Before Covid-19 there were job fairs that were set up where I was going to have the opportunity to meet with districts and look for a job. But once everything started to happen with COVID-19, all hiring events were canceled. So I am not even certain if I have a job next year,” said Issaquah School District longterm first-grade substitute teacher Shayla Anderson.
“COVID-19 changed everything for my teaching… My favorite part of my job, like many other teachers, is being able to interact with kids every day and doing that through a computer is not the same. The way that I teach has completely changed, now I pre-record all my lessons and send them to families. I am nervous about what will happen next year and if I will even get a job,” said Anderson.
Anderson who graduated from Washington State University College of Education with a major in Elementary Education has faced trouble securing a full-time position. “At the moment I have been applying to positions online but have not heard what the hiring process will look like when we are still practicing social distancing,” added Anderson.
For more resources, information, and updates on how COVID-19 affects districts and district personnel visit https://www.k12.wa.us/about-ospi/. For official information and updates on COVID-19 visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/
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