Mississippi is tackling its persistent teacher shortage head-on with an exciting new virtual teaching program. Christened REACH MS (Mississippi Virtual Synchronous Learning Initiative), this innovative endeavor is a collaborative effort between the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB).
Fueled by a substantial $2.2 million state investment, the program strategically deploys certified virtual teachers into classrooms across five pilot school districts. These dedicated educators deliver engaging, live instruction remotely, while on-site facilitators ensure classroom management runs smoothly and provide essential in-person support to students during lessons.
Pilot Program Takes Flight in Five Key Districts
The initial phase of REACH MS is active in Hinds County, Yazoo County, Yazoo City, Claiborne, and West Point. Each participating district ensures robust internet connectivity, adequate classroom facilities, and dedicated in-person support personnel, including provisions for students with special educational needs. Currently supporting about 150 students, the program harbors ambitious plans to expand its reach to 5,400 students across additional districts.
Bryan Marshall, Associate State Superintendent, highlights that this initiative not only fills crucial staffing voids in essential subjects but also strategically fortifies the future teacher workforce by integrating student teachers who are close to certification. “Our vision is to onboard student teachers for a period, after which they transition into full classroom roles, making way for a new cohort,” Marshall explained.
Expert Educators Deliver Real-time Lessons from Afar
Currently, three certified teachers and three teacher assistants are at the helm of virtual classes for English I, English III, Algebra I, and Algebra II. Operating from MPB headquarters in Jackson, each virtual instructor is outfitted with an eGlass system – an cutting-edge interactive lightboard and camera setup designed for seamless, real-time teaching.
Marshall emphasized that this isn’t a passive, lecture-based model. “These are not your normal sit-and-get-lectured style of teaching,” he noted, underscoring how the interactive lightboards foster vibrant student engagement. Under its maximum capacity, each virtual teacher could potentially serve up to 450 students.
Technology Mimics Traditional Classroom Dynamics
The program is meticulously designed to replicate the feel of a traditional classroom. At Yazoo City High School, for instance, ninth-grade students are guided through their lessons by Caitlin Perkins, one of the program’s student teachers. Even though Perkins is an hour away in Jackson, students engage with her live, asking questions and participating actively, while an in-person facilitator maintains order and handles materials like worksheets.
Initial feedback from students in Yazoo City has been promising. “We’re not just writing more, but we’re actually understanding more about it,” shared Rodrianna Drain, a student benefiting from the virtual setup.
A Long-term Vision for Mississippi’s Education Landscape
With almost 3,000 teaching positions vacant statewide and over half of all districts experiencing critical shortages, the MDE views this virtual initiative as a vital complement, not a replacement, to ongoing recruitment efforts. These broader strategies include enhanced funding for teacher licensure and a modernized recruitment platform.
In Yazoo City, a district currently rated ‘F’ by the state, ten teacher vacancies—including two in core subjects—highlight the urgent need for solutions. Sametra Brown, Assistant Superintendent of Federal Programs, expressed the district’s rationale: “Rather than our students having a substitute teacher in the classroom that has maybe no credentials, this was an opportunity for them to get live instruction.”
Future Forward: Expanding the Program’s Reach
Leslie Hebert from MPB, also a virtual teacher in the program, confirms that REACH MS is built for scalability. The MDE has already placed orders for 12 additional eGlass systems, with plans to introduce virtual math and science classes by spring. State Superintendent Lance Evans is actively lobbying for increased legislative funding to support a wider, statewide deployment of the program.
“This is almost like having a real person in the classroom,” Marshall affirmed, emphasizing the effectiveness and immersive quality of the virtual learning environment.