Province adding 120 new staff for upcoming school year in P.E.I.

The government of P.E.I. is hiring 120 additional staff to help manage growing enrolment and diverse classrooms.

The new staff includes 66 teachers, 51 educational assistant positions and three bus drivers across the province's French and English schools. Eighteen of the new positions will be behaviour support teachers as part of the new Positive Behaviour Intervention and Supports pilot program that's launching in some schools to help students better integrate into Island classrooms.

The Department of Education says the program is meant to promote a positive culture and improve students' social, emotional, behavioural and academic outcomes.

"We recognize that it's a challenging role that our teams play within our school system and we want to make sure we are there to support them in any way that we can," said Education Minister Natalie Jameson.

What's a behaviour support teacher? P.E.I. school official explains

3 months ago

Duration 2:08

This year, 18 behaviour support teachers will be hired as part of a pilot program in Island schools. Dominique Lecours, assistant director for the Public Schools Branch, explains why these positions are needed and what the teachers will be doing.

Andy Doran, president of the P.E.I. Teachers' Federation, said the additional supports let teachers focus more on delivering the curriculum.

"Adding any new positions, including specialized roles like behaviour support teachers, it's a positive step towards addressing the diverse needs of our classrooms," Doran said. 

"Supporting those needs and challenging behaviours is crucial. Teachers can't do it alone, they need support and this is a step towards making that happen."

P.E.I.'s French-language school board said it already has a similar program in place, but will be keeping an eye on the pilot program to see how it goes.

The Public Schools Branch hopes to have the behaviour support teachers in schools by mid-October.