Virtual Substitute
When a teacher is absent at Ephrata High School, it may no longer be necessary to bring in a substitute teacher. The District is trialing a cutting edge solution - the virtual substitute teacher.
Ephrata High School teachers are now given the option of creating an online virtual lesson for their students when they have a planned absence. This lesson is presented to students in a common area of the school, such as the media center or a study hall, where supervision by staff is already scheduled.
“We are continually trying to find ways to use new tools to solve age-old problems. The virtual substitute program is just another example of this,” said Dr. Brian Troop, District Superintendent.
The shortage of substitute teachers plagues districts countywide and beyond. “Districts are left shorthanded when teachers call in sick, and they must scramble to figure out ways to ensure classrooms have coverage for the day. This often requires pulling other teachers from planning periods and duties to supervise the classroom, which is less than ideal for students and staff,” commented Peter Kishpaugh, Ephrata High School Assistant Principal.
District administrators believe implementing the virtual substitute option at Ephrata High School has been a positive addition. It has created improved student engagement and less loss of instructional time, enabled students to work at their own pace, and increased student collaboration. “It has also helped teachers maintain their planning periods, encouraged blended learning with technology, and reduced the administrative stress associated with organizing class coverage,” concluded Kishpaugh.