New Mexico National Guard members invited to volunteer in schools, day cares amid teacher shortage

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday announced that the state’s National Guard will stand in schools and day cares as part of a new initiative to support schools experiencing staffing shortages.

The first-of-its-kind initiative called Supporting Teachers and Families (STAF) will allow state workers and National Guard members to volunteer in schools and child care centers or become licensed K-12 substitute teachers or child care workers amid coronavirus-related staffing shortages.

Our schools are a critical source of stability for kids – we know they learn better in the classroom and thrive among their peers.

Today we announced our Supporting Teachers and Families initiative, supporting school & child care staffing staffing and keeping school doors open. pic.twitter.com/fE6XLfCigo

— Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) January 19, 2022

“Our schools are a critical source of stability for our kids – we know they learn better in the classroom and thrive among their peers,” Grisham said in a Wednesday statement. “Our kids, our teachers and our parents deserve as much stability as we can provide during this time of uncertainty, and the state stands ready to help keep kids in the classroom, parents able to go to work and teachers able to fully focus on the critical work they do every single day in educating the next generation.”

State employees and National Guard members interested in volunteering or earning their substitute licenses must undergo the same background check and online workshop requirements as other substitute teachers and child care workers. – READ MORE