Connecting Hiring Practices to School Master Scheduling to Address Teacher Shortages



by Renee Bunch, Cardonex Account Executive

The current shortage of teachers and available substitutes is impacting all aspects of


education – central office, campus administration, teaching teams, and most importantly, our students. With higher-than-normal teacher turnover, aligning staffing plans with emerging student-centered master scheduling needs has never been more important. Connecting hiring practices to school master scheduling facilitates equitable learning opportunities, maximizes current staff capability and improves the classroom experience for both students and teachers.

According to the National Education Association, 80% of educators indicate that burnout is a serious problem. With educators leaving the profession or unavailable for long stretches, many districts have turned to uncommon hiring practices to complete their teams when necessary. This raises the question – are all students receiving the high-quality instruction they deserve? The educational community as a whole faces a universal challenge – how to ensure an equitable and quality education while efficiently and effectively utilizing limited resources.

>>> 10 Tangible Strategies to Build Collective Efficacy and Reduce Demoralization

Stormy Hickman, director of talent management for College Station ISD, says her top priority is doing what is best for students and giving them the best learning opportunities. “We know that our teachers and our counselors and our administrators are the ones on the front lines making that happen every minute of every day,” she said. “Any resources we can provide to them, whether it is in the form of a tool that gives them back time or something that helps us better understand their staffing needs...that is important to use so we can really be there to support what’s happening on campuses.”

Employing a data-driven staffing model allows K-12 leaders to optimize existing staff – a powerful practice given high-quality full-time equivalents (FTEs) are in short supply. Data-driven staffing practices also empower school and district leaders to realize staffing needs as soon as student course requests are received. This early identification of vacancies provides an advantage over other districts, improves the quality of teacher hires, and positively impacts student outcomes.

>>> Improve Teacher Quality and Reduce Staffing Costs Through Early Identification of Staffing Needs

According to Danette Tilley, former executive director of secondary education for LaPorte ISD, one of the most powerful benefits of connecting hiring practices to school master scheduling is the ability to have a clear picture of staffing and budget needs. “In the past it would take all summer to complete the schedule, only to find that staffing had changed, and, in some courses, there were more students than available sections,” she said. “Now, I have a clear understanding of staffing needs for all of my secondary schools,” she said.

Technology tools available to school districts today have significantly enhanced operational efficiency, allowing education leaders to improve education quality without wasting valuable hours or investing in underutilized staff. Aligning hiring practices with master scheduling needs balances student-to-teacher ratios, supports teacher satisfaction, and aids in teacher retention. The master schedule plays a pivotal role in building effective staffing plans, boosting student achievement, creating a positive instructional environment, and improving the overall climate of a school.

Renee Bunch joined the EAI family in January 2021 as a Cardonex Account Executive. Renee brings 28 years of experience in public education in both middle and high school in a variety of roles from teacher to principal.

The Product

Cardonex, powered by Education Advanced, is a patented master scheduling and staff planning technology that provides school districts with significant time- and cost-saving efficiencies. Cardonex is the most advanced master scheduling technology in the industry and the only master scheduling technology that addresses staff planning. Cardonex integrates with existing SIS solutions to pull required data into an easy-to-use interface that takes clients through a guided process addressing all the considerations required to optimize schedules including student requests, staff capability and availability, and facility considerations. The implementation process coupled with the Cardonex software delivers over 90% of students’ first-choice classes in 75% less time while balancing classes for all teachers throughout the day.

 

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