Dive Brief:
- Teachers and educators have increased opportunities to work from home on an online/remote basis, provided they have a degree in education or experience in the field, according to a listing of open remote online teacher positions highlighted by Remote.co.
- Remote.co says the online opportunities offer teachers the chance to avoid some of the possible drawbacks related to in-classroom teaching, including student misbehavior, long hours spent in the school and the intrusion of school politics into education.
- The open job listings include a remote science teacher position, where the educator will virtually manage “instructional programs,” consulting with coaches and students to ensure students complete the program.
Dive Insight:
As blended and online learning gains more prominence in K-12 classrooms, there will be more opportunities for administrators to consider non-traditional relationships with educators. This could be particularly beneficial for an industry facing a nationwide teaching shortage, with particular communities and regions strongly affected. Schools in low-income communities, which sometimes suffer from a disproportionate number of substandard teachers, could benefit from getting qualified educators in classrooms with students, even if it is done remotely. And rural districts throughout the country, which are already experimenting with blended learning tools, could benefit from remote educators, as they struggle with teacher shortages stemming from the fact that certified educators tend to move to urban areas where there are more job opportunities.
Utilizing online freelancers in K-12 education could also offer cost savings for school districts struggling with tight budgets, similarly to how adjunct professors add extra staff for colleges and universities without as many supplementary costs. As arts programs, among other disciplines, have undergone significant cuts in the past and may face further shortfalls in the years to come, using freelance educators would allow schools to keep offering programs without the addition of a full-or-part-time staffer, and it could also free schools and districts to share teachers in several locations, cutting down on costs.
