Many rural schools rely on international teachers. Trump's visa changes threaten that

"Hardin, a town of 4,000 about an hour east of Billings and just off the Crow Indian Reservation, is a place that has had trouble attracting teachers. "We don't have candidates," says Tobin Novasio, the district's superintendent. Earlier in his career, he says that if he posted an elementary teacher position, at least 20 people would apply. Now, "if we get two, we're ecstatic." Hardin, like many rural districts, relies on international teachers to fill out its staff."

"Last month, President Trump unveiled a plan that requires employers pay a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas. In his announcement, Trump specifically called out high-paying tech jobs that he said were filled by too many foreign workers. However, the impact on schools and educators will be significant. According to data from the Department of Homeland Security, more than 20,000 educators are in the country on H-1B visas — the third most common occupation group for the program."

Maria Cristina Tomimbang has taught middle school math for 22 years, including four years in Montana, and values the Hardin community. Hardin, a town of about 4,000 near the Crow Indian Reservation, struggles to attract candidates and relies heavily on international teachers; roughly 30 of 150 teachers in the district are on teaching visas. Many educators use short-term J1 visas and hope to move to H-1B status. A proposed policy requiring employers to pay a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas would make long-term hiring unaffordable for many school districts and worsen staffing shortages.

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