We can’t get through the day with0ut hearing about the economy. Well, the bad economy has impacted education, specifically teacher hiring. In some districts, hiring has been frozen. Why? Districts have no money for new hires or they are waiting to see how the stimulus money will trickle down from the the federal level to the state level to eventually the district level. This weekend I spoke with a principal who said his hands are tied. He can’t move on any hiring until this summer (when the District will release their budget). This is extremely frustrating to principals who tend to want to wrap up their teacher hirings in April and May. Its even more frustrating to aspiring teachers (job applicants) who are wondering when they will get an interview.
I asked the principal what his advice is to those teacher job applicants. His advice was to ” keep being persistant.” Here are some other ideas:
- Arrange to visit the school
- Talk with the school’s teachers
- Get (keep) your face and name out there
- Learn how to get your foot in the school door (read Road to Teaching: A Guide to Teacher Training, Student Teaching, and Finding a Job)
- Read other teacher interview/hiring strategies (Student teacher topics)
- Don’t give up!!!
2 comments
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March 26, 2009 at 2:10 am
K. Linehan
This is really scary. I am a recent graduate and I am certified to teach 4-12 Science and yet I have NO JOB. Every time I tell some one new that I want to teach science they reply, “oh we need science teachers! you are sure to get a job!” What makes me so bitter is that I live with 30 minutes to 9 districts in the DFW area. I can’t even count how many schools that is– unfortunately, I could barely get a sub position this spring! I have attended the Teacher Recruitment for 2 districts so far and will attend many more as possible but it really seems as though the principals are just there because they are required! Everyone is scared in this economy but I never thought that the crunch would affect teaching. I am hopeful, and I think your advice is great… I really have no other choice but to not give up!!
March 28, 2009 at 12:20 am
hougan
I am sorry to hear you are struggling so much. It’s tough because it seems nobody is hiring. Everyone is waiting to see how the state budgets will shake out, and how the stimulas money will filter down.
I just got word today that my District is looking at a shortfall in the millions and the District is projecting to let go close to 66 teachers. Ouch.
The bad ecomony is starting to trickle (in some cases, pour) down on the schools, crippling the Distircts financially.
From personal experience I can say that persistance pays off. Keep at it. Keep looking. Keep making those contacts. Keep filling out all those horriblely long applications.
Let us know how things are going in the coming months? Good luck!