Educators at every level are trying their best to keep students safe and provide in-person instruction at the same time. But with the challenges staff have faced over the last two years, it can be hard to retain your teachers and staff.
We want to help. That’s why we’re sharing some information surrounding staff shortages and this list of 5 ways schools can overcome staff shortages (that parents and teachers will love).
We’ll dive into:
- The Cost of Staff Shortages
- 5 Ways to Overcome Staff Shortages With Pikmykid
- Benefits for Parents
- Improved Communication and Transparency
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- A Partner in Education
The Cost of Staff Shortages
Staff shortages are having a ripple effect across schools nationwide. According to a recent National Center for Education Statistics report, a staggering 77% of schools reported experiencing staffing shortages in the 2023-2024 school year. This lack of manpower creates a challenging environment for both educators and students.
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Disrupted Learning: When classrooms are understaffed, teachers may be forced to combine classes or cancel lessons altogether. This disrupts the learning process and can make it difficult for students to stay on track.
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Increased Workloads: With fewer staff members to share the load, remaining educators are stretched thin. This can lead to burnout, decreased job satisfaction, and ultimately, more staff leaving the profession.
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Strained Student-Teacher Relationships: In an ideal situation, teachers have time to build relationships with their students and provide individualized attention. However, when staff shortages are present, teachers often don’t have this luxury. This can strain relationships and make it more difficult for students to feel supported.
5 Ways to Overcome Staff Shortages with Pikmykid
1️. Reduce Staff Fatigue By Streamlining Dismissal.
Before students even step foot into the classroom, your staff need to organize how they arrive and get home, and hopefully ensure their safety along the way.
To reduce staff fatigue, it’s important to minimize redundant steps. Answering phone calls from parents who want to make dismissal changes can take hours of your staff’s time.
Instead, you can provide a way for parents to make instant dismissal changes from the Pikmykid mobile app. This gives your office staff time to focus on other tasks and have access to reports to safely account for every student.
2. Let Them Focus On Teaching.
Most teachers didn’t get their degree in education to use walkie talkies and deal with frustrated parents in the parking lot. They love educating students.
You can streamline the whole process and get rid of unnecessary roles using Pikmykid which reduces the number of staff needed to run dismissal.
As the car line speeds up, you can also give each teacher back an average of 75 minutes per week. They can redirect this time into their passion- helping students succeed. They’ll also have more time for planning and rest, which can help improve their mental health as well, reducing burnout and increasing staff retention.
3. Make It Easy for Substitute Teachers To Jump In.
When a teacher is preparing a lesson plan for a substitute, they often have to use more of their instructions for the school’s overly complicated dismissal process than what goes into the lesson plan.
Pikmykid empowers you to run dismissal with tools that make it so easy, your staff can train a substitute teacher in their sleep. And, since there are less staff necessary for dismissal, it’s less likely a substitute will be needed for dismissal in the first place.
4. Equip Staff Better For Emergencies.
During a busy school day, the last thing you want teachers to experience is heightened anxiety over confusing emergency protocol. More often than the worst case scenario, an intruder on campus, a myriad of more frequent emergencies occur.
The current processes often leave staff unsure of how to act in the moment even when they only have a few seconds to react.
We decided to take out the anxiety-inducing guess work by giving schools the ability to clearly communicate their protocol and direct staff to take appropriate actions in the instant they’re needed.
With Pikmykid, you can prepare staff to act quickly and confidently with a suite of tools on the devices they already have in their pockets. They’ll have access to initiate emergency alerts through a panic button, receive staff instructions to their cell phone, and enable location services to ensure staff and student safety.
5. Give Them Technology To Eliminate Unnecessary Tasks.
Running back and forth between the front office, their classroom, and the parking lot is an outdated and inefficient way for staff to use their time. We now live in a day where UberEats can deliver your food faster than you can order it in person. We have technology for connecting with friends across the world in an instant through zoom, and we have robots mowing lawns for people who aren’t even at home.
But why are some staff still using walkie talkies, sticky notes, and overwhelming Google sheets to coordinate the everyday process of student dismissal?
They don’t have to anymore.
By giving your staff technology that uses devices they already have, you can eliminate dozens of monotonous tasks for them. They’ll feel respected as you acknowledge their level of education and empower them to redirect their time towards the things only they can uniquely do as staff and teachers.
With Pikmykid, you’ll have multiple ways to relieve the burdens staff feel so you can make a direct impact on increasing staff retention and creating a safer learning environment for staff and students.
Benefits for Parents
The Pikmykid platform isn’t just for schools and staff – it offers significant benefits for parents as well! Here’s how Pikmykid can streamline the dismissal process and bring peace of mind:
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Real-time Updates: No more waiting anxiously by the phone or refreshing an email. Pikmykid provides real-time updates on dismissal status. Parents know exactly when their student is being signed out and on their way home.
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Direct Communication: Parents needing to make a last-minute changes to dismissal plans? With Pikmykid, parents can communicate those changes directly through the app, eliminating the need for phone calls and ensuring everyone is on the same page.
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Increased Transparency: Pikmykid fosters transparency throughout the dismissal process. Parents will have access to information about dismissal procedures, any updates on early releases, and even when their student was dismissed.
Improved Communication and Transparency
Pikmykid goes beyond just streamlining dismissal; it also fosters better communication between staff, administration, and parents. Here’s how:
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Secure Messaging: The app provides a secure platform for messaging between parents, teachers, and administrators. This allows for quick and easy communication about dismissal plans, schedule changes, or any other relevant information.
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Automated Dismissal Notifications: Receive automated notifications through the app letting parents know when their student has been dismissed and is on their way home. This keeps them informed throughout the process.
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Streamlined Communication During Emergencies: In the event of an emergency, Pikmykid can be used to send out mass notifications to parents with clear instructions and updates. This ensures everyone receives critical information quickly and efficiently.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Pikmykid isn’t just a dismissal management tool; it’s also a valuable source of data for schools. The platform monitors dismissal trends, allowing schools to identify bottlenecks and optimize procedures for maximum efficiency. Here’s how:
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Monitor Dismissal Trends: Pikmykid can account for things like average dismissal times, dismissal transportation modes, and parent dismissal changes. This data allows schools to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions to optimize dismissal procedures.
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Identify Bottlenecks: By analyzing dismissal data, schools can pinpoint areas that are causing delays or inefficiencies. This allows them to address these issues and streamline the process for everyone involved.
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Optimize Procedures: With real-time data at their fingertips, schools can make informed decisions about how to improve dismissal procedures. This can lead to shorter wait times, a smoother process for staff, and ultimately, a more positive experience for everyone.
Pikmykid: A Partner in Education
Pikmykid understands the challenges that schools face today, and we’re committed to being a partner in education. Here’s how we support schools:
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Ongoing Customer Support: Our dedicated customer support team is always available to answer questions and provide assistance to schools using Pikmykid, for both schools and parents.
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Training and Resources: We offer comprehensive training and resources to help schools get the most out of Pikmykid. This includes training materials, webinars, and ongoing support.
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Commitment to Data Security and Privacy: We understand the importance of data security and privacy, especially when it comes to student information. Pikmykid employs industry-standard security measures to keep all data safe and secure.
That’s it! We believe in you.
And guess what..many schools have used their grant money to implement Pikmykid and their teachers are loving it. There are more than 8 grants and funding options available for you to start with.
Don’t wait until August to implement Pikmykid. Start now to show your staff you mean business in helping them feel confident to continue with you next school year.
Request a demo to learn more and get Pikmykid set up and ready to go!
