Online learning new way to fill gap
Short on teachers, Paterson classes go virtual in a 'peek into the future'
By: Joe Mallinconico
Paterson Press
PATERSON - A room of 20 eight-graders at School 26 listened quietly on a recent Friday [03/28/2025] morning as their science teacher went over a lesson on genetics.
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The teacher, Chatlyn Padirayon, called on students by name, asking them questions. Then she gave the whole class some fill-in-the-blank exercises to make suer they had learned the material.
..... During the session, the youngsters rarely looked up form the screens on their open Chromebooks. That's because the educator conducting the lesson wasn't standing in the classroom with them. She wasn't even in New Jersey.
..... Padirayon was conducting the science calls virtually, part of Paterson Public Schools' $2 million contract with Texas-based Proximity Learning for Online instruction to address the district's problem with teaching vacancies.
..... "I believe we're taking a peek into the future right her," Whispered School 26 Principal Derrick Hoff as Padrayon spoke to the student about genotype traits.
"You have a vacancy? You get a remote teacher until you find someone to fill the vacancy."
..... Hoff said Padirayon's science knowledge far exceeded that of most substitute teachers, many of whom are still in the process of getting their college degrees.
..... The principal said the educator from Proximity was using Paterson's science curriculum for the course and following the district's teaching practices by incorporating such things as "demonstrations of learning" in her lesson plan.
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The Paterson district, like many around the country, has been struggling with a teacher shortage in recent years. As classes started last September, [2024] the district had about 150 teaching vacancies. that number has decreased to about 6, officials said earlier in March. [2025]
..... District officials recently allowed a reporter and news photographer to visit three classes that are using Proximity - the science session at School 26, as well as geometry and honor medicaid math classes at Paterson STEM High School.
..... STEAM Principal Nellista Bess noted that the district still assigns substitute teachers to classes run remotely by Proximity educators to provide in-person supervisions of students. Bess echoed Hoff's assertion that the Proximity staff member surpass substitutes in terms of their ability to teach academic content.
..... Miguel, a senior in the medical math class, said the switch to Proximity when the previous teacher was reassigned has worked out well.
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"I like it because she's a good teacher,: Miguel said of the Proximity employee, who conducts the class from the Philippines.
..... Miguel wants to become a registered nurse, and during a recent class he worked on a word problem that required the students to calculate the proper medication level based on a patient's body weight.
..... "We get to learn what we need to know," he said.
..... Miguel was in seventh grade in 2020 when COVID forced the shutdown of New Jersey schools and Paterson shifted to virtual instruction. "we're used to taking classes Online," he said.
Union has filed complaints
..... Not everyone thinks Proximity Learning has been good for Paterson. The city teachers' union has filed complaints with the New Jersey Public Employment Relation Commission over the private firm's contract, as well as with the state Education Department regarding the qualification of the Proximity staff.
..... Paterson Education Association President john McEntee Jr. and Proximity's educators are not required to undergo fingerprint background checks, and he questioned the way the firm's employees - especially those living outside the state or country - get their New Jersey teaching credentials.
..... "They shouldn't be allowed to just bypass requirements," McEntee said.
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District officials said all Proximity employees conducing classes for Paterson schools have the requisite New Jersey teaching certificates.
..... Meanwhile, the union president also said that not every calls conducted by Proximity runs as smoothly as those picked by the district for the Paterson Press visits. McEntee said that earlier in this academic year, [2024-2025] he witnessed a classroom in chaos.
..... "Imagine a television show with a classroom out of control, and that's what it looked like," McEntee said.
,,,,, Paterson Press sent messages to Board of Education President Eddie Gonzalez and Vice President Joel Ramirez asking for their thoughts about the effectiveness of the virtual classes. but neither responded.
Started with language classes
..... Proximity's founder, Even Erdberg, said his firm has run into opposition from teachers' union in other districts. He said unions have wrongly accused his firm of trying to replace local on-the-ground teaching staff.
..... "We're just trying to provide a stop-gap to address the national vacancy crisis," he said.
..... Erdberg said he launched the company about 16 ears ago to fill vacancies in world language classes. He said the firm evolved to provide educators for other subjects with teachers shortages, including math, science, English as a second language, and special education.
..... Proximity currently has contracts with about 180 districts covering 700 schools, 4,500 classes and 80,000 students, Erdberg said. He said his firm provides substantiative academic instruction that's superior to what substitute teachers offer.
..... Erdberg said 90% of Proximity's teachers live in the United States.
..... "If we;re not there, those kids would have no instruciton going on at all," Erdberg said.
..... This is the second year the Paterson district has had a $2 million contract with Proximity. District officials said they have not yet determined whether they will continue using the company.