Washington wants immigrant teachers to work in the US

June 30 2009 by Mark Johnstone

Washington DC wants immigrants to work in US

According to a report in the Seattle Times, more than 40 public school districts in Washington have applied for US work visa holders to be able to work in their schools.

The H-1B skilled work visas are usually used by private companies to employ immigrants to fill skills shortages, but these shortages are also being felt in the state’s schools.

The visas, which are often used by technology firms in the US, are being used to hire foreign teachers in positions that are showing skills shortages such as maths and science and specialist areas such as outreach.

Highline School District’s human-resources director, Don Waring, explains, “there aren't enough American maths teachers to go around."

Some districts have found they are increasingly making teachers redundant but are still suffering skills shortages in some areas and have used skilled US work visas to employ foreign teachers who have been studying in the US or those who are moving to the US specifically for the teaching jobs.

Kathy Miyauchi from the Issaquah School District says she has had good experienced hiring foreign teachers, “we are looking for qualities of a good teacher and that's the same whether the person is a citizen or someone going through the immigration process.”

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