Educators blast HISD uncertifed teacher search

By Laura Onyeneho

Te Houston Independent School District is grappling with a pressing challenge as the new school year approaches - a shortage of certifed teachers to fll crucial vacancies in classrooms across the district. In an efort to address the situation, HISD has turned to alternative measures, seeking uncertified educators to bridge the gap.

The district currently has over 2,500 vacant job positions across HISD. Te shortage afects a range of subjects and grade levels, raising concerns among parents, educators, and education advocates.

Te Houston Federation of Teachers (HFT) expressed that this decision isn’t a “teacher shortage problem”. “We have a shortage of certified teachers who refuse to be treated the way they are being treated. You will have to go out and start looking for uncertifed teachers, when you don’t respect the teaching profession,” said Jackie Anderson, president of the HFT. “Now he is scrambling to look for bodies to walk into the schools to do the job of an educator, and that shouldn’t be happening.”

Some critics argue that hiring uncertifed educators may compromise the quality of education and limit students’ access to a robust learning experience. However, the district asserts that these hiring decisions are necessary to ensure every classroom has an instructor at the start of the school year.

“Tis is going to be detrimental to Black students in general. Tere are