CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Corpus Christi Independent School District is adding more flexibility when it comes to hiring teachers in an effort to combat the ongoing teacher shortage.
On Monday, the district approved an amendment that broadens who can teach in a class room as an associate teacher. Those who are instructors at a community college or four year university can be hired, along with those currently holding a bachelors degree and working toward completing their certification.
Teresa Flores is a teacher a Travis Elementary School. She was hired as an uncertified teacher after graduating with a bachelors in communication from Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi. Even though she didn't have a degree in education, that didn't stop her from following her passion.
"And then I fell in love, I absolutely loved it, I said 'this is what I want to do,' " she said.
Due to being an uncertified teacher, Flores didn't have all the certifications that someone who went through a traditional education program would normally have.
"In that time I was able to work for the school district for one year and get that teaching experience while getting my three state board certifications," she said.
Flores said that being able to get experience before getting her certification helped a lot.
"I didn't pass my state board test the first time, it's a very hard test and there's three of them," she said.
President of the Corpus Christi American Federation of Teachers Dr. Nancy Vera said that there could be negative consequences to the flexible hiring criteria.
"Research shows that those students will perform worse on standardized tests scores than they are now," she said.
She said that broadening those requirements takes away from the "sacredness" of teaching.
"They are dumbing down the teaching profession," Vera said.