- April 26, 2024
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Flagler Schools has had trouble filling some teaching positions. The district believes the answer is to go beyond borders by contracting with TPG Cultural Exchange to bring in certified teachers from other countries for a temporary stay of one to five years.
Fifteen Florida school districts are already using TPG and that number is expected to rise to 18 next year, Flagler Schools' Chief Human Resources Officer Robert Ouellette told the School Board on Jan. 4 at an agenda workshop. TPG currently has 500 teacher placements in Florida and 2,000 nationwide, Ouellette said.
The exchange teachers would fill critical shortage areas in math, science and teachers of student disabilities, areas where the district has been advertising but can't fill vacancies, Ouellette said.
"Right now we have science positions filled with long-term subs since the beginning of the (school) year, because we haven't been able to find somebody."
— ROBERT OUELLETTE, Flagler School's chief human resources officer
"Right now we have science positions filled with long-term subs since the beginning of the (school) year, because we haven't been able to find somebody," he said.
The district would use TPG on a small scale, filling probably less than a dozen positions, "but it definitely fills a need," Ouellette said.
TPG is a J-1 visa sponsor and takes care of health insurance and process/sponsor expenses. The district would pay the exchange teachers' salaries on the same salary scale as its full-time teachers. It would also pay TPG about $11,500 per teacher in fees, but the district would not be responsible for health insurance, FICA or retirement contributions, which would be an overall savings for the district.
"They match certifications with the needs of the district," Ouellette said, noting that the district does a needs assessment that it would share with TPG, which would then provide a list of candidates.
"Our principals and hiring committee interview those folks and we have the final say as to whether or not we believe they would be a good fit," Ouellette said.
Board Chair Cheryl Massaro said she has spoken with a School Board member from Polk County, which contracts with TPG and also met one of the exchange teachers from India. Massaro said the district was "amazed with how good the service was."
The board is scheduled to vote at its Jan. 17 business meeting on whether to sign a contract with TPG to provide a limited number of educators in critical shortage areas.
"I think it's something we can benefit from if we take it slow and not impact our current staff, but support our current staff," Massaro said.
Board members Christy Chong and Sally Hunt asked if the exchange teachers could potentially take positions that local candidates could apply for.
"We, by no means, want to replace our existing folks or candidates that would be highly qualified coming out of our area," Ouellette said.
Board member Colleen Conklin said, like Massaro, she has heard only positive feedback about TPG.
"I think we're at a point where we don't have a choice but to look at creative options like this."
— COLLEEN CONKLIN
"I think we're at a point where we don't have a choice but to look at creative options like this," Conklin said. "If we had local Floridians that would be available to fill those positions, that would be the best way to go, but obviously we're not there. And unfortunately I think this problem will become more challenging (in the future)."
Hunt said she would like to see a two-tiered approach where the district uses the exchange program and also conducts a search to hire citizens for permanent positions.
"As long as everybody knows we're working to improve recruitment and retention," she said.
If the district signs with TPG immediately after board approval, the program would begin with the 2023-2024 school year. From February to May, TPG would place teachers in a portal for principals to select.
The exchange teachers have a non-immigrant visa for up to five years, are fluent in English, have an equivalent of at least a four-year's bachelor's degree and a minimum of two years' experience, according to a TPG slide presentation. TPG also performs a health and criminal background check. TPG has a 95% retention rate, according to the TPG document.
Ouellette said the district's long-term substitutes are in various stages of reaching certifications. The exchange teachers will all be certified for their positions. By using the company on a small scale, he said, it will allow the district to evaluate the program over the three to five years the teachers are working in the district.
