School buses park in a parking lot in Las Cruces, New Mexico on January 14. (Nathan J. Fish/Sun News/USA Today Network)
A new program in New Mexico is streamlining the process to allow state employees and members of the National Guard to work as substitute teachers and aides as staff shortages caused by the Omicron variant continue — and that includes Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
The governor said the state was “poorly short” of educators, so she and others are stepping in.
“States and governments have had to throw in a dime during the pandemic to build systems and support our critical, vital, essential services. There are no other options,” she said in a CNN interview.
She thinks she’s starting an elementary school next week.
The governor said participants in the program must first complete a background check and security course.
“I feel very good about this effort and the goal is to keep schools open and to support educators, parents and students through the worst of Omicron,” she said.
So far, 50 members of the National Guard and 50 state employees are taking part, and schools decide where to place them in classrooms.
“The whole goal is certainly not to disrupt the skilled experiential work that is needed in our public schools – but just to prop them up so they stay open.” And I hope that maybe it stays that way as we develop a pipeline. The whole point here is to really support hospitals, health workers, childcare providers and schools,” Grisham said.
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