A Guide to Solutions for Teacher Shortages

Recent estimates show there are about 55,000 vacant full-time teaching positions across the United States, underscoring the severity of the teacher shortage impacting school districts nationwide. While the teacher shortage crisis is more pronounced in some regions, many schools across nearly all 50 states continue to struggle with teacher vacancies, especially in core subjects, world languages, science, technical education, and special education.

As the ongoing teacher shortage persists, school leaders and school administrators are under increasing pressure to ensure student learning continues uninterrupted throughout the school year. Some districts have turned to asynchronous online learning to fill vacant teacher positions. While this approach may meet minimum state requirements, it often limits interaction, engagement, and student progress, key components of quality education.

Research from the Learning Policy Institute and the National Education Association shows that students benefit most from live, interactive instruction. A synchronous instruction model supports real-time engagement, encourages self-discipline and student responsibility, and allows teachers to respond immediately to student needs. In contrast to pre-recorded models, a synchronous classroom helps keep students engaged, improves classroom management, and strengthens instructional continuity.

4 Steps to Successful Synchronous Classroom Integration

Addressing the national teacher shortage requires more than simply filling teaching positions with new teachers. It requires thoughtful planning that supports schools, districts, and students over the long term.

A synchronous classroom combines a certified virtual teacher livestreamed into the classroom while an in-person facilitator assists students in the classroom. This can be an effective solution, but success depends on careful student and teacher preparation, ongoing evaluation, and alignment with district goals. The following four actionable strategies allow you to integrate virtual instruction while protecting instructional quality and supporting existing teachers.

1. Conduct an Initial Needs Assessment

Begin by conducting an internal initial needs assessment to see what your school district needs from a synchronous classroom model. Important questions include:

• What classes do we need to include to meet state requirements?
• What do students on an IEP or 504 plan need from an online learning environment?
• How can special education teachers and special education accommodations be supported in a virtual environment?
• What support do new teachers and experienced educators need to succeed?
• Are there specialty course offerings that would benefit our learners?
• What would the class schedule look like? Would classes be daily, every other day, weekly, etc.?
• How long would our school provide a particular class?
• Does our school have the IT set-up needed to offer seamless synchronous classroom instruction?

Bear in mind that your initial conclusions could change at a later date. Because teacher turnover and enrollment patterns change, districts should continue reviewing data, assessment results, and student progress throughout the school year and make adjustments accordingly.

2. Prepare the Synchronous Classroom

Preparing for a synchronous classroom begins with ensuring the right technology and infrastructure are in place. Schools must have reliable devices, bandwidth, and systems that allow students and teachers to focus on learning instead of troubleshooting.

Equally important is setting expectations. Learners should have as much advance notice as possible to ensure an optimal learning experience. Students should understand that a synchronous classroom is an in-person-style learning environment where participation, collaboration, and engagement are expected.

You’ll also want to inform students of the class schedule, course duration, completion date, and passing requirements. Clear communication around schedules, course length, grading, and instructional expectations helps reduce confusion and supports consistent instruction.

3. Get Started

Once your plan is in place, it's time to get started. This is an exciting teaching and learning experience for all involved. Being able to make friends and learn in an engaging, fun environment can help students enjoy their studies.

A well-designed synchronous classroom supports more than academic instruction, it fosters community and engagement. Virtual teachers and experienced educators use fun interactive strategies, group activities and games, and discussions that help students connect with peers while strengthening learning outcomes.

Strong virtual programs emphasize engagement, collaboration, and real-time interaction. This helps students feel supported while maintaining structure throughout the school year.

4. Measure Your Success Rate

Even with strong planning, ongoing evaluation is essential. A synchronous classroom platform is an ideal learning environment for any educational institution. Even so, that doesn't mean there won't be challenges along the way.

That's why school administrators should track student learning, engagement, and behavior using consistent assessment and performance data. Based on insights collected during the school year, districts may decide to:

• Add new classes to meet the needs of incoming students or a state's changing requirements
• Request an adaptation of learning materials and/or the overall learning environment to meet new scope and sequence requirements
• Make classroom accommodations to meet the needs of IEP and 504 students

Continuous monitoring helps districts maintain instructional quality while responding to staffing and enrollment shifts.

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Address the Teacher Shortage Head-On With a Synchronous Classroom Setup

The teacher shortage continues to affect many educators, creating stressful conditions that cause teachers to leave the profession due to low pay, heavy workloads, and challenging working conditions. Without enough qualified teachers, students risk losing access to consistent instruction.

Don't allow the current teacher shortage to rob your students of a quality learning experience. Each learner deserves access to top-tier instruction and educational materials.

A synchronous classroom offers long term solutions for districts seeking to fill teacher vacancies while maintaining instructional quality. Key benefits for both teachers and students include:

• Access to fully certified, experienced teachers nationwide
• Expanded offerings in science, world languages, and technical education
• Flexible scheduling that adapts to student and district needs
• Cutting-edge technology that supports interaction, collaboration, and engagement through tools like breakout rooms, interactive tools, multimedia resources, a virtual whiteboard for each class, and more

By combining virtual staffing with live instruction, districts can protect learning outcomes while reducing pressure on existing teachers and improving retention.

Address the Teacher Shortage Effectively with Proximity Learning

The education system continues to face unprecedented staffing challenges, but school districts don’t have to navigate them alone. A classroom with a virtual teacher, live, face-to-face classes, and a collaborative learning environment benefits your learners. Don't delay; if you need more teachers and classes than your school can provide on its own, start the process of examining your needs and requirements and then contact Proximity Learning to work out a synchronous classroom set-up for your educational institution.

With more than 15 years of experience, Proximity Learning has partnered with hundreds of districts to staff thousands of classrooms with fully certified educators. By delivering live, synchronous instruction and proven programs that support student learning, we help districts address today’s teacher shortage while building sustainable solutions for the future.

Are you ready to stop your staffing gaps and provide your teachers and students with the education experience they deserve? Talk to us to learn how Proximity Learning can support your schools this school year and beyond.

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