District updates subcommittee on international teacher partnership and J‑1 placements
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Summary
Dr. Sergio Paez told the subcommittee the district has placed about 18 international teachers recruited through his firm; teachers undergo credential checks, English testing and J‑1 cultural-exchange processing. Paez recommended local research into language-development outcomes and said his group helps with housing and onboarding supports.
The Fall River Public Schools structural subcommittee heard an update Dec. 18 on the district’s international teacher partnership, including recruitment, visas and local supports for internationally recruited instructors.
Dr. Sergio Paez of Global Education Solutions described the district’s screening and placement process: candidates must hold degrees from accredited universities, possess licenses where required and demonstrate high English proficiency. He said his firm escorts candidates through the J‑1 cultural-exchange visa process and provides hands‑on onboarding support, including help securing housing and navigating local systems.
"Effective teachers have a significant impact on the students' learning and academic performance," Paez told the subcommittee, outlining why the district invested in international recruitment. He said about 18 international teachers are currently working in the district and that many arrive ready to teach "day one." Paez suggested two research priorities: measuring language-development gains and analyzing content-and-language simultaneous learning outcomes.
Committee members asked about visa lengths and renewal; Paez said the J‑1 placement is typically for one year with the possibility of renewal and that some teachers have remained beyond three years through successive renewals. Members also asked whether the district would expand housing support for teachers; Paez said his firm assists with housing access but that any large-scale housing expansion would likely require a separate contract with the district.
Several members asked for data on special-education placements where international teachers are assigned; district staff agreed to provide available service-grid and inclusion-percentage data on request. Members expressed broad support for the partnership and thanked Paez for his work.