TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Leon County Schools is considering recruiting international teachers to address staffing shortages.
The school district is considering working with a company called TPG Cultural Exchange. The organization utilizes the federal J-1 Cultural Exchange Visa program to assist schools in hiring qualified international educators from places such as India, Jamaica, the Philippines, Spain and France.
The district says its top hiring needs include special education, STEM fields, English language learning and elementary education.
Superintendent Rocky Hanna says the international teachers would not replace local teachers or local hiring. Instead, it would help fill openings they haven’t been able to staff.
“I’ve been with our district 38 years now. I never thought we’d be at this point. Years ago, we had hundreds and hundreds of young, eager folks applying for teaching jobs. But now, you just don’t. Those numbers have dwindled,” Hanna said.
Rocky attributes the teacher shortage to lower pay and the scrutiny educators have come under.
“Fewer young people are entering this profession for two reasons. One is pay. And two is how much scrutiny they have come under. Especially post-pandemic and all of the horrible things said about our teachers from elected officials. Young people are looking at that [and thinking] I don’t want to get in the middle of that.”
Under the proposal, international recruits could teach locally for three years, with a potential extension to five. To qualify, educators must hold a U.S.-equivalent teaching degree, have at least two years of classroom experience, speak fluent English and secure Florida teacher certification.
Hanna says he is hoping to have the new international teacher contracts in place by the end of May and get the new teachers in Tallahassee over the summer.
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