As a bill in the General Assembly allowing for adjunct instructors in public schools becomes law, Graham County Schools Superintendent Angie Knight said she saw some ways that the district could take advantage of the new rules.
Gov. Roy Cooper signed Senate Bill 582 into law on June 21.
The law is aimed at the teacher shortage plaguing much of North Carolina and offers qualified individuals the chance to work as adjunct instructors in North Carolina school districts.
Under the law, adjunct instructors would be allowed to teach part-time in North Carolina schools, focusing on classes matching their areas of expertise. Prospective adjunct instructors would be required to complete a semester of teacher preparation courses at a community college.
Knight said she would consider using the change in the rules to offer classes the district was unable to offer in the past.
“Our hands have been tied in the past – because you had to have the position for it – but now you can pay them by the period so that really opens options for us,” Knight said.
Knight cited examples such as French classes and more art classes at both the middle and high schools, as possible courses that could be offered.
“It would give us and opportunity to expand our curriculum and I’m excited about that,” Knight said.
However, she said that the district would have to wait until the N.C. Department of Education released its guidelines on the new law before it was able to take advantage of the rules.
The district would be required to ensure adjunct instructors were educated in certain areas, including how to address discipline and how to handle students with special needs.
“We are proud to have this endorsed by both the department of public instruction and by Secretary of Public Education (Catherine Truett),” said State Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Macon, one of the bill’s sponsors. “Senate Bill 582 passed with unanimous bipartisan support in both chambers and was signed by the governor.
“In no way do we want to replace our valuable teachers in North Carolina. What this does is address the shortage in some systems for some classrooms, which would help relieve the pressure on our principals and superintendents to get these classes covered.”