Students discover teaching jobs, more opportunities

Almost 70 schools represented

Ellen Ahearn / contributing photographer Senior Amy Huddleston talks with Jack Palmer, human resources coordinator of Hampton City Schools, about job opportunities.

Over 200 education students made the long trek from Roop Hall to the College Center Grand Ballroom Monday for Teacher Recruitment Day.

Nearly 70 school systems were represented, ranging from a handful of North Carolina and Maryland counties to almost 60 Virginia counties, cities and schools, as well as a diocese and a representative from the Virginia Department of Correctional Education.

Teacher Recruitment Day primarily targeted graduating senior education students, according to Tracy Hakala, an academic and career adviser and coordinator of the event.

"This is also a good time to explore your options if you're a junior or a senior who won't be graduating because of the [five-year] master's program," Hakala said. "Students can talk to schools and gather information. Some school systems remember candidates the following year because they were impressed with their skills."

Students picked up literature, talked with school representatives and set up interviews that took place later in the afternoon.

"At these recruitment fairs, we give candidates a history of our school system, do an initial screening and give our recommendations to the human resource department," said Kathy Blanche, specialist in early childhood education for Charles County Public Schools in Maryland.

"We anticipate 250 openings," Blanche added. "Our staff is increasing as we open new schools and develop new programs as a part of No Child Left Behind," she said, in reference to President George W. Bush's education reform plan.

Although some school systems want to increase the number of faculty members, there is "more demand than supply" of teachers, according to Hakala.

Many recruiters emphasized the shortage of math, science and special education teachers. Some school systems offered a bonus of up to $1,500 for teachers to fill these positions.

"We need middle and high school teachers for these subjects," said Bernette Johnson, coordinator of secondary staffing for Richmond Public Schools. "Most teachers specialize in early childhood education, so we're always looking for candidates to teach math and science courses at the secondary education level."

Because new teachers might not know what to expect in the classroom, schools also offered mentoring programs.

Fairfax County Public Schools has a program called Great Beginnings, which provides support directly at the school site for all teachers new to FCPS, according to Kathy Bruce, assistant principal of Bonnie Brae Elementary. It is like a mentoring program.

Teacher Recruitment Day is beneficial to both recruiters and teacher candidates, according to Bruce. "We like it because we can interview a lot of potential teachers, but it also provides good opportunities for the candidates. There are a wide variety of school systems present today, so students can explore unfamiliar options and not just gravitate to what they know," she added.

Senior Meredith Becker said, "The recruiters were really friendly and answered all my questions. The fair had a lot of opportunities to offer."