OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — As many students wrap up their first full week of school, one district is taking an innovative approach to fill its open teaching positions.
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In June, Channel 9 reported the Osceola County School Board approved hiring more than 100 international teachers.
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Channel 9 spoke with the president of one of the exchange programs the district is using to meet the need.
“My students always love being in my class,” said international alliance teacher, Christian Mbelle.
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From 6,000 miles away, Mbelle shared his excitement.
“I will be able to introduce my own culture,” Mbelle said.
Mbelle is a certified science teacher in Cameroon, West Africa, and soon he will be coming to Central Florida to fill one of many open classroom positions.
He is one of nearly 400 teachers, part of the International Teacher Alliance group.
Jason Hammond is the group’s president and says 100 school districts across 22 states are working with his team to help solve the shortages they are faced with this school year.
Osceola County has signed up roughly a dozen teachers from International Teacher Alliance to come in this school year.
The teachers coming in are experienced and vetted receiving background checks and screenings in their home country, from our federal government and then locally.
The U.S. Department of State has made it clear that programs like these are not a permanent fix.
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The teachers will be in the U.S. for three to five years and then must return to their home countries.
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