'Vacancies Are At An All-Time High': Tulsa School Board Approves Policy Allowing Aspiring Teachers In Classrooms

The Tulsa School Board voted to allow aspiring teachers in classrooms across the district. Aspiring teachers are similar to adjunct teachers. They will be individuals 21 years or older working toward their education and certification.

This comes after a similar policy was proposed at the board meeting last month and was overwhelmingly opposed.

"Aspiring educators and grow your own is not a replacement for certified teachers, it is an effort to grow our professionals during a time when vacancies are at an all-time high," said Dr. Ebony Johnson.

Monday's meeting was full of people on both sides of the policy. Some returned again to share an opinion on the practice.

"What we have here is not a policy to bring non-degreed, uncertified help to our classrooms. We need a policy to review why teachers are leaving TPS and what measures we can enact to entice them back," said Leanne Jimenez.

Oklahoma State Representative and former teacher John Waldron was among those who spoke against the policy.

"Adjunct teachers are not the solution, they're the normalization of the problem. What we should be doing is restoring respect and fair pay to teaching, so that it remains a viable career for people who want to promote the development of our next generation," said Waldron.

However, some current educators disagree.

"Aspiring teachers would give the district the opportunity to invest in community members who are working toward the academic requirements needed to become a certified teacher," said Jason Gilley.

The new policy will require aspiring educators to be assigned mentors called "master educators" who will work alongside them in the same school.