Disproportionate Access to Certified Live Teachers in Underserved Communities
What is educational equity? The Center for Public Education states, “Equality in education is achieved when students are all treated the same and have access to similar resources. Equity is achieved when all students receive the resources they need so they graduate prepared for success after high school.” Achieving equity is the goal, but systematic […]
Equity For 1 Million Students: Why the U.S. is Failing to Solve the Teacher Shortage Crisis
Every morning, I get inundated with google alerts around the teacher shortage. In desperation to solve this issue, schools try everything they can, including pleading for parents to volunteer in classrooms. Meanwhile, states are trying to help, sometimes by taking actions that have been frantic, extravagant, or misguided. Tennessee offered free apprenticeships to would-be teachers. […]
Illinois Superintendent Emphasizes Need for Flexibility and Planning
Illinois Superintendent Emphasizes Need for Flexibility and Planning From variants to mandates to flexible settings, administrators were charged with rapidly meeting the needs of all students, despite the obstacles in their way. With this experience, Dr. April Willis uncovers how Prairie-Hills Elementary District 144 Superintendent, Dr. Kimako Patterson, is preparing for an even more successful […]
10 Ways to Start Your Virtual Classes
Your lesson plan is ready, you’re awake and caffeinated, students enter the virtual classroom…but now what? How do you kick off the class? Our expert virtual teachers share their best practices for starting their virtual classes every day. Whether you are livestreaming into a brick-and-mortar classroom or are being joined by students streaming in from […]
5 Ways to Incorporate SEL into Virtual Teaching
Written: January 2022 Updated: February 2026 You can see the small moments when students reflect on how they’re feeling, hesitate to speak up, or struggle to stay regulated during the school day. That’s why it’s so important to incorporate social-emotional learning (SEL) into virtual teaching. SEL focuses on helping students understand themselves, connect with others, […]
Top Events for Educators in 2022
Meeting fellow experts in your field broadens your perspective and engages your mind. Teachers and district leaders can continue to learn at a variety of annual events to engage in skill building, utilizing updated tools and techniques, and professional networking. Educators should have continuous education themselves to ensure they provide the best possible environment for […]
New AAEE Report Sheds Light on Current and Future Teacher Shortages
Since schools reopened, educators have been doing their best to help students recover from interrupted learning caused by the pandemic and address the educational inequities brought to light. However, the efforts of many institutions have been severely hampered by a lack of teaching staff. To find out more about the ongoing teacher shortages, the American […]
Free Resources + Virtual Instruction Certification Webinar
As more and more teachers decide to make the transition to teaching online, they want to be equipped with the best resources and training to serve their students. For the Proximity Learning December webinar, certified virtual teacher Dawn Comer joins host Dr. April Willis as they discuss free resources and educator preparation tools. Ms. Comer […]
Proximity Learning: 2021 Year In Review
2021 was a big year for Proximity Learning! We expanded, learned from growing pains and educated tens of thousands of students. Across the country, students had access to the virtual certified teachers they deserve because we focus on providing quality educators. Growth In 2021, Proximity Learning grew 300%, graduating from being a small startup. With […]
Why We Are Passionate About Educational Equity
Educational Inequity Proximity Learning CEO, Evan Erdberg, grew up with supportive, working parents and excellent schools with a wide variety of course availability. When he worked in teacher professional development and traveled to schools around the United States, the educational inequities were evident. He recognizes now that he had a huge advantage because of the […]
