Stephanie Slayter, a first grade teacher at All Saints Catholic School in Manassas, began teaching again in October 2020. She knew it would be difficult to return after she had taken several years to home-school her children, but she felt confident David Conroy, the principal, and the other school leaders would be there to support her. “Mr. Conroy was very open with what was to be expected and there was a good team here,” she said. “I just knew that I wouldn’t jump in and be by myself.”
The obstacles teachers face in a pandemic have led some to retire early or leave teaching for another profession. Though she was prepared, it still was challenging for Slayter to juggle online and in-person learning. “You had to be creative and do things a little differently,” said Slayter, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Manassas. “There have been some very difficult moments.”
David Lima, a diocesan assistant superintendent who served as principal of St. William of York School in Stafford until last year, also witnessed the ways teaching became more difficult. “My teachers never knew day to day what was going to happen, how safe was it going to be. Was COVID going to come into the building, were they going to get sick?” he said. “They’re worried about the hand sanitizers, washing down the desks — all of that pressure on top of teaching.”
As with many other industries, schools around the country are suffering from a teacher shortage. Arlington diocesan schools are looking to fill around 200 open positions. So the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools is stepping up recruitment efforts.
In the fall, the office hosted prospective teacher nights to walk potential applicants through the process. “We’re looking for any candidate with a bachelor’s degree. We would love candidates who are certified in the commonwealth, who have or are willing to receive state licensure,” said Lima. And “(people) with a passion to educate, who love children and who love Our Lord and who would love to work in that team environment.”
Although the schools office usually held an annual, in-person teacher job fair, for the second year in a row, the event will be virtual. “We found that the amount of people who came increased, so we decided to do that again this year,” said Lima. “A lot of times the job fair is in February and (college) students are still in classes. So by doing it virtually, it allows those students who are in classes to still attend the job fair and it doesn’t interfere with their class time.”
School officials also are traveling to more college job fairs than ever before, said Lima. “We’re really trying to get out as much as we can, (to) get our name out. I know from being not only a teacher and a principal and now in this position, (that) once you get into the Diocese of Arlington, you find that it is an amazing place to work.”
Joseph Vorbach, diocesan superintendent of schools, is working to help principals retain the teachers they have, said Lima. “Joe has allowed them to give half days when needed, or dress down days when appropriate, (things that) allow the principals to do what they need to do (to support their teachers),” he said. “We’re loosening requirements, things that — if it’s not really important, why make them do it?”
After her first year teaching in a pandemic, Slayter chose to teach again at All Saints this year, saying that all in all it’s been a great experience. “There’s just so much joy,” she said. “Students are very grateful to be back in the classroom, the parents are fantastic, very supportive and great at communicating. Every day I give it to God and let him do what he can do. I’m really glad I took the risk to jump in and do it.”
