Parents of students at James Culnan Catholic School in Toronto’s west-end neighborhood are expressing frustration as the school continues to face a shortage of permanent teachers well into the school year. Concerns are growing among families regarding the impact on their children’s education, safety, and well-being, with some students even opting to transfer to other schools due to the ongoing instability.
Laura Iantorno, a parent with two children at the school, shared her concerns about the lack of a permanent teacher in her child’s class. She described the situation as disruptive and detrimental to the students’ learning experience, with a constant rotation of substitute teachers causing instability in the classroom.
Another parent, Ryan Mino-Leahan, highlighted the challenges his son has faced with the lack of consistency in teachers, impacting his academic progress and behavior. The issue of teacher turnover has been a persistent problem, with attempts to address the issue with school administrators yielding minimal results.
Parents attribute the teacher shortage to chronic underfunding and a broader province-wide issue. While they understand the larger challenges at play, they emphasize the urgent need for a stable learning environment for their children.
The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) stated that addressing the staffing situation at James Culnan is a top priority. The board is committed to filling vacancies and ensuring that every classroom has the necessary support. However, parents are calling for more concrete actions to be taken to address the ongoing teacher shortage and provide a consistent and quality education for the students.