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BUCKHANNON -- Upshur County Schools is facing a problem that is becoming an issue both state-wide and nation-wide -- a lack of available substitutes.
In the fall, a lack of substitute teachers prompted Buckhannon-Upshur Middle and Buckhannon-Upshur High School to close to in-person instruction. Similarly, a COVID-19 outbreak among the transportation department in the fall meant there were not enough bus drivers.
Upshur County Schools has been actively recruiting for substitutes in professional and service personnel.
"Our greatest need is for classroom teachers," assistant superintendent Dr. Debra Harrison said Wednesday. "We have a need in all other areas too, cooks, custodians, aides and bus drivers."
Upshur County Schools resumed the blended model of in-person learning Jan. 19 with cohorts of students going twice a week. The Upshur County Board of Education previously said they will re-examine this at the Feb. 23 board meeting.
"As we move towards the in-person instruction, we are going to need substitutes even more so," Harrison said. "We have several of those positions posted and we do keep them posted for a period of time so we have an opportunity to attract individuals interested in helping us and working with children. That is the most important thing -- individuals who want to work with children."
Many substitute teachers are retired teachers, but Harrison said that those individuals are concerned about the risk of being in the classroom every day due to COVID-19. COVID-19 has exacerbated the substitute and regular teacher shortage, according to Harrison.
"We have some (full-time) positions that we have not been able to fill and in those positions we do have long-term substitutes such as at Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School," she said. "The good thing about that is that other teachers work very closely with them and the leadership at the schools works with them. They have been very effective because of the support they have received."
To qualify as a substitute teacher, individuals typically need a bachelor's degree but the West Virginia Department of Education has made some exceptions due to the substitute teaching shortage and COVID-19, according to Harrison. Restricted short-term permits are being offered through the West Virginia Department of Education.
"Individuals who have an associates degree are able to qualify for a substitute teaching license as well," she said. "They would have to complete the requisite requirements of the state department and do the online coursework and that would allow them to be certified to be a classroom substitute teacher. In certain cases, even student teachers can also get that restricted short-term permit."
Anyone interested in becoming a certified teacher should contact Brandon Williams, manager of teacher certification and licensure, at 304-472-5480 ext. 1027 or brandon.williams@k12.wv.us.
"He can walk anyone here through the process to complete certification to be able to substitute teach," she said.
Upshur County Schools will provide the CDL training for individuals interested in driving school buses. Anyone interested should contact director of transportation Jodie Akers at 304-472-5480.
Individuals interested in becoming a substitute aide, cook or custodian must take a test, according to Harrison. Eddie Vincent, director of child nutrition and wellness, typically administers those tests on Thursday mornings. Contact Vincent at 304-472-5480 to set up a time for testing.
"I would like to say that we have been very fortunate that the individuals who we have been able to hire in all of our substitute positions have been working very hard," Harrison said. "They have done an outstanding job. Coming in as a substitute has been a very difficult position to be in. We have been very fortunate that we have such a cadre on every level of professional and service employees. The cadre of substitutes has been such an asset to the county."