ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. — Tamara Smith teaches four classes a day at Purnell Swett High School in Robeson County.
What You Need To Know
- Purnell Swett High School in Robeson County has dealt with a shortage of math teachers for the last eight years
- This year, the district's found a creative way to deal with the problem, although it won't be sustainable
- Right now, five teachers are filling in virtually for the semester
- The teachers are also getting a stipend of $5,000 for the additional work
She would normally have a planning period to make copies and plan lessons. Instead, she's filling in virtually for a math class about 20 minutes up the road at Red Springs High School.
"It's the most difficult course and trying to learn it on their own without having a teacher there to at least give them some assistance — they would have not understood anything," Smith said.
Smith says teaching math online isn't easy, especially when you have algebra, trigonometry and geometry all in one course. Not to mention, math isn't the most popular subject.
"We gained a history teacher, we gained a couple science teachers and one math teacher," she said. "Everybody wants to teach, not math."
Smith is volunteering to split her time, knowing it's a temporary solution to a much bigger problem.
"I think a lot of it had to do with COVID and just a lot of people not knowing what to expect, and when they saw what they were expected to do, it kind of threw a wrench in things," Smith said.
Whether she can handle the extra workload next semester remains to be seen. Smith's holding on for her students' sake.
"It's been rough. I mean, I haven't reached burned out yet, but it's exhausting," she said. "I think [the students are] at more of an advantage this year than they were last year because at least they've got each other."