HAMPTON CITY SCHOOLS EVERY CHILD, EVERY DAY, WHATEVER IT TAKES!

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Delivery of Teaching and Learning 


Hampton City Schools is excited to welcome our students back to school on Monday, August 29, for the 2022-2023 school year! Click here to view the HCS 2022-2023 School Calendar.


Hampton City Schools requires approximately 1,500 teachers annually. Each year we aggressively work to recruit and retain an exceptional teaching staff. While we recognize there is a national shortage of teachers, we are continuing to attract, recruit, and hire teachers for our school division on a daily basis. HCS is not immune to the national teacher shortage, which is impacting school divisions throughout our region (Peninsula and Southside). At this time, 94% of our teacher positions are filled. As such, it is important for us to share with you how we are using a comprehensive plan to provide high-quality teaching and learning in classes where an HCS vacancy exists at this time. 


HCS Teachers Teaching Additional Classes

We have HCS teachers at the secondary level (grades 6-12) who have committed to teaching an additional class, typically during their planning time. This is not new to our division. It is a long-standing successful practice that we have used for a number of years when a vacancy has occurred. Teachers who agree to teach an additional block are placed in classes in which they are certified to teach and are compensated for this time. We will continue this practice where staffing allows. 


This will occur in two ways. (1) An HCS teacher teaching an additional class will teach in-person to their assigned class. (2) An HCS teacher teaching an additional class will teach remotely from another building. This will be in collaboration with an in-person facilitator who will be present in the classroom to assist students with immediate in-room support, whether it be with technology or assisting the remote teacher with instruction. 


ESS and University Instructors

We will continue to work with Educational Staffing Solutions (ESS) to staff classrooms where a particular need in PreK through grade 12 exists. In addition, we will be welcoming University Instructors to our instructional team. 


Below is additional information regarding ESS and University Instructors. Students who have a class or classes taught by one of these instructors will continue to receive our HCS guaranteed, viable curriculum, and all students will be held to our academic standards. These instructors will also participate in HCS professional development and will receive support from our principals; assistant principals; and our curriculum, instruction, and assessment team. All staff will continue to be observed by our building administrators to ensure high-quality classroom instruction. 


ESS - Hampton City Schools has a long standing partnership with ESS. They specialize in placing qualified in-person staff in daily and long-term teaching positions. It is important to note that an ESS instructor may not be with your child the entire school year as we continue to recruit and hire additional full-time educators. In cases where we transition to an HCS-hired teacher, we will work to ensure a smooth transition. 


University Instructors (UI) - The division welcomes a total of five University Instructors to our team. Similar to ESS, UI specializes in placing qualified in-person staff in long-term teaching positions in the classroom. It is important to note that a University Instructor may not be with your child the entire school year as we continue to attract, recruit, and hire additional high-quality educators. In cases where we transition to an HCS-hired teacher, we will work to ensure a smooth transition. 


Our core business remains that of teaching and learning in a safe and nurturing environment. We look forward to seeing our students back in our school buildings, and we thank each one of our HCS staff members and partners for working together to ensure academic excellence for every child, every day, whatever it takes!

 

August 19, 2022