As you may be aware, we have struggled to find enough full-time teachers for all of our fourth and fifth grade classrooms this year. The nationwide teacher shortage has impacted Harrisburg.
Beginning January 3rd, 2023, we will begin a new teaching rotation that will ensure that all of our students are being taught by qualified and certified teachers who specialize in a subject area. Using this model, we will be able to reduce our current class sizes.
Teachers specializing in English Language Arts, Math, or Science and Social Studies will rotate throughout each of the fourth and fifth grade classrooms throughout each day. Your child will be experiencing a model similar to a traditional middle school model, except instead of changing classes, students will remain in their classroom and teachers will come to them.
Some of the teachers who will be rotating through classrooms are currently classroom teachers, while others are currently content-area teachers (for example, a math specialist) who are currently supporting our students and classrooms.
If your child is in one of the classrooms that is impacted by these changes, you will be receiving additional communication from us, and from your child’s new teachers. You will get a copy of your child’s new schedule for the day.
Also, Living Well Institute will continue working with students for the last part of every school day, focusing on social and emotional learning (communication skills, helping students manage their emotions, and helping them become more self- aware.) The skills they will be focusing on are important for their success as they move through higher grades and into life after school.
Thank you for your patience as we have worked through this staffing challenge. We are very pleased you have chosen the Harrisburg School District for your child and we look forward to working with your child during the second half of the school year.
Sincerely,
Eric Turman, Superintendent Harrisburg School District
