Dr. Johnson requests that the Board consider making an exemption of La. R.S. 42:1119 based on her justifications provided.
Due to the extreme shortage of available/qualified paraprofessionals and substitute teachers in the district, Dr. Jacqueline Johnson, Franklin Parish School Board Member-District 5, is requesting that her daughter, Tyana Johnson, be permitted to be hired as a paraprofessional and/or substitute teacher at Winnsboro Elementary School. Dr. Johnson provided the following information regarding Winnsboro Elementary:
- To date Winnsboro Elementary is an F School with very few certified teachers and staff. Additionally, Winnsboro Elementary received one of the lowest 2021 Simulated School Performance Scores in the state of Louisiana. Trying to recruit and retain qualified certified teachers and paraprofessionals at this school is an extremely difficult task. At the end of this past school year 2021-2022, Winnsboro Elementary lost over 17 teachers some of whom were certified. This is the same story when it comes to paraprofessionals and substitute teachers especially considering the current pay. Many of their certified teachers and paraprofessionals relocated to neighboring parishes such as Richland Parish where they can earn significantly higher wages due to their June 13th pay and other incentives. In an effort to address this severe shortage of personnel, the district placed ads in the local newspapers and surrounding areas as well as conducted job fairs in an attempt to fill these open positions.
Dr. Johnson also provided the following information regarding her daughter:
- Tyana Johnson is an online/virtual rising junior at Southern University, majoring in child development with a cumulative GPA of 3.8
- Tyana meets all the requirements to fulfill the position of either paraprofessional or substitute teacher.
- Tyana is not eligible to apply and/or receive a temporary authorization to teach
- The Superintendent, Mr. John Gullatt, is in full agreement that hiring this individual, at Winnsboro Elementary ONLY will be an asset to the district.
- Dr. Johnson stated that when her daughter graduates with her certified teaching degree in less than two years, she will join the team at Winnsboro Elementary permanently.
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