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School districts can determine mask policies, can’t mandate vaccines, Texas Education Agency says

Now, the Texas Education Agency has issued new guidance in response to Executive Order GA-34 . AdTEA officials said the governor’s order does not take away the agency’s authority to implement operational requirements for public schools. Under the new guidance, schools should continue to require masks for anyone over the age of 10, but local school boards have the authority to modify or eliminate the policy. TEA officials also responded to the news that educators and school support staff are eligible for vaccines effective immediately. AdTeachers will not be required to get the vaccine at this point and school districts cannot mandate that employees get vaccinated, TEA officials said.

Prioritizing teacher vaccinations will be a challenge until shortage is resolved, Biden official says

Prioritizing teachers in Covid vaccine distribution will continue to be a challenge until more doses are readily available, Andy Slavitt, senior advisor to the White House Covid-19 Response Team, said Wednesday. President Joe Biden has made reopening the nation's schools for in-person instruction one of his top priorities. Slavitt said governors have "difficult decisions" to make in juggling vaccine distribution for groups including seniors, nursing home workers and teachers. The issue of whether teachers should be vaccinated before returning to the classroom has been a flashpoint in the debate regarding reopening in-person instruction. The CDC guidance also advises schools to align reopening plans with the severity of outbreak in their communities.

cnbc.com

Area school districts say substitute teachers are needed now more than ever during the COVID era

SAN ANTONIO – If there was ever a need for substitute teachers before the pandemic, it’s now. Chancellor said they are now allowing substitute teachers to come in with 60 college credits instead of having a degree. The increase in COVID-19 cases has affected school districts across the area. Mark Ruston, Northside Independent School District’s director of human resources, said the challenge is not necessarily finding substitute teachers, but finding substitute teachers that are willing to work the length of a quarantine period. “Five days a week substitutes, which we are in need of, that’s an area that has proven to be quite a challenge,” Ruston told KSAT.

CPS head says she wants to compromise with teachers but in-person classes must remain an option. CTU says time is running out for an agreement.

On Jan. 4, when the first group of returning teachers were due to report in person, about 60% were marked present, according to CPS data. But the figure was up to more than 70% by Monday, the day the first students — preschoolers and children in some special education programs — returned. That still left more than 500 teachers not in attendance; of those, 145 were deemed absent, and on Tuesday, they were locked out of their Google Classroom accounts and their pay was withheld. That figure dropped to 100 later in the week. By Friday, the number of AWOL teachers was down to 87, but the percentage of total staff members who showed up was the lowest since Monday.

chicagotribune.com

CPS ‘does not care about my health and safety’: Teachers call plan to withhold pay if they don’t show up for in-person classes Monday ‘heartless’

“Even though we are starting to bring students back I also want to reiterate that students who are staying remote for the next quarter will still receive high quality instruction,” Thurmond said. “While I might not be able to hug them when they return, I am looking forward to hearing their voices and laughter in my building again and watching them flourish as students in ways they did not even know they were capable of.”

chicagotribune.com

Students are sending teachers, professors signs of appreciation over Zoom calls and it will warm your heart

We’ve all had to adjust to the craziness of this year, but some students across the world, from preschoolers to graduate students, had to learn virtually, and it’s been difficult on the students and teachers. That’s why a lot of students are showing their appreciation for teachers and professors everywhere as they’ve had to get creative and figure out how to teach curriculum on a Zoom call. This group of students from the College of New Jersey said thanks to their professor over Zoom, and his reaction is just priceless. Here is another of students surprising their college professor. These students said thanks to their Spanish teacher, and her reaction is so heartwarming.

San Antonio mayor, Bexar County judge urge Texas governor to add teachers to COVID-19 vaccine priority list

SAN ANTONIO – Teachers and educators in Texas should be added to the state’s COVID-19 vaccine priority list when the initial distribution of the drug is conducted, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said Thursday. Greg Abbott, Nirenberg and Wolff urged the governor to amend the state’s priority tiers as well as provide federal funds to support widespread COVID-19 testing in schools. Abbott and the state health department have announced a plan for the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, which includes specific groups like healthcare workers, frontline workers and vulnerable populations. The local non-profit Community Labs is currently testing at 98 Bexar County school campuses, but it’s far from a universal program. Nirenberg and Wolff also said in the letter that the San Antonio region continues to see high positivity rates, extensive community spread and a rise in hospitalizations.

Southside ISD facing substitute teacher shortage amid COVID-19 pandemic

SAN ANTONIO – Southside Independent School District is struggling to find substitute teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharon Fuery, executive director of human resources and administration at Southside ISD, said there are several reasons substitute teachers are not returning this year. Northside ISD, Northeast ISD and San Antonio ISD said the substitute teacher shortage is not impacting their districts. North East ISD said it is always in need of substitute teachers and advertises for them year-round. San Antonio ISD said it is aware of the nationwide substitute teachers shortages, but it is not impacting its district.

Teacher stress can influence student behavior, according to study

With the added stress of teaching students at school and at home, many educators have decided to leave the profession altogether because they are tired of dealing with so much pressure. Even if teachers decide to stay, their stress can have an adverse affect on their students. A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and published on consumeraffairs.com, shows that teachers' stress could have a direct impact on their students behavior. During the study researchers learned that kids are more likely to act up, and even get suspended, when they can see that teachers are visibly upset or stressed. Researchers learned that students really want to feel supported and encouraged at school.

Your child’s classroom can win a library of free books

SAN ANTONIO – Three great organizations are teaming up so that 1,000 teachers will win an estimated 20,000 books. To win, you must be a Title 1 teacher, federally funded teachers that work with students who have yet to master math and reading skills. From there, 1,000 teachers will be selected to win a batch of free books for their classroom. Teachers who win will go to a website and select the books they would like to receive, so this can benefit any age range, from babies to teens. Teachers can send books home for students to read.

2 NEISD elementary school teachers recognized with gifts from sporting goods store, chat with Sean Elliott

SAN ANTONIO Two San Antonio teachers were recognized by an area sporting goods store in honor of their work in the classroom on Tuesday. Trenton Logsdon and Janna Michalak, both teachers at Woodstone Elementary, received a free curbside delivery and special opportunity to talk to San Antonio Spurs great Sean Elliott over Zoom thanks to Academy Sports + Outdoors. Trenton Logsdon and Janna Michalak are incredible teachers who do so much for their students at Woodstone Elementary. The pair spoke via Zoom to Elliott who thanked the pair for their hard work and dedication. In September, education professionals can receive 10% off their in-store or online purchase with a valid school ID.

Classroom Confessionals: ’Virtual is a failure and students need to be in class’

SAN ANTONIO – The in-person vs. virtual learning debate is still raging on with parents, students and teachers sharing their differing opinions regarding the best option for how to continue student’s education amid the coronavirus pandemic. AnonymousVirtual is a failure and students need to be in class. If they don’t need to be in class, we don’t need the schools and the teachers. Virtual learning is a great option. BeverlyThey are going to kill the kids, teachers and family at home!!!

Thousands of Texas teachers set to receive pay increase, TEA says

San Antonio – More than 3,600 Texas teachers are getting a boost in pay for the next five years. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced Tuesday its inaugural Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) list, which was made possible with the passage of House Bill 3 in 2019. Teacher pay is based on a teacher’s designation level of master, exemplary or recognized. The districts must use at least 90% of the funds on teacher pay. Dr. Saul Hinojosa, superintendent of Somerset ISD, said the pay increase is life-changing for some of his teachers.