28 teachers get called back to Flint schools - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(03/07/13) - More than two dozen teachers are back on the job in Flint. They got the news at Wednesday's board of education meeting.

These returning teachers will take on a special role in the classroom. It took most of the school year before the state released title one money to pay the teachers.

It's been a long time coming for 28 Flint Community Schools teachers who just got called back to work this week.

"It means we will have more teachers to work with our students, so that makes smaller class sizes. Hopefully that help, especially in our priority schools, raise achievement," said MEA President Ethel Johnson.

They're referred to as "intervention" teachers specializing in students who need extra attention.

"These intervention people will be either pushing into a classroom with a teacher or pulling out students on a one on one basis," Johnson said.

Karen Christian teaches fifth and sixth grade at Washington Elementary. Her school will get two intervention teachers lightening the load for the rest of the staff. "That way when you go on to the next lesson, that child has already been given that extra help and ready to move on to the next lesson with you."

Despite being without these teachers for most of the school year, the district is anxious to welcome them all back.

"Most of them even when we have other teachers who come back from pink slipped, they get right back into the swing of things they are there to work with kids, they want to work with kids so they're immediately ready to go," Christian said.

Union leaders say the district did the paper work to receive this money before the deadline. They blame the state for taking so long to respond.