To address the teacher shortage issue, the Georgia Foundation for Public Education through its Innovative Education Fund, offered a grant funded through the PEACH Education Tax Credit, to the Muscogee County School District. Some educators enter the classroom with little to no pedagogy experience and lack the foundational skills necessary for successful classroom management and work with diverse learners. However, throughout this challenging hiring season in education, the Muscogee County School District (MCSD) has found that paraprofessionals have been the backbone of schools, providing both instructional and emotional support for students regularly. The district set out to achieve the following goals:
Address Skills Gaps: Equip non-certified educators, paraprofessionals, and novice teachers with needed tools to ensure their success in the classroom.
Retain & Attract Talent: Increase retention by investing in employees and building a culture of “WE.” Which is why when there is availability, veteran teachers may participate for a refresh.
Increase Employee Engagement: Employees feel valued and appreciated.
Specifically, the grant has allowed the district to provide the following:
Classroom Management Training for paraprofessionals, non-certified educators, novice teachers and those who want a refresher, and instructional assistants.
The district partnered with the MCSD Professional Development Department to identify trainers to prepare for and deliver a three-hour paraprofessional and five-hour teacher Classroom Management training. Code of Ethics Training for MCSD Paraprofessionals to prepare for GACE testing.
The district partnered with Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) attorneys to present multiple one-hour virtual Code of Ethics Training sessions for MCSD Paraprofessionals in 2024. Learn more on the Georgia Foundation for Public Education’s website The Georgia Foundation for Public Education.