Finding good teachers can be a daunting task. Knowing that our kids are in good hands is important for educators as well as parents. Therefore, the recruitment and onboarding of qualified educators is of equal importance.
In this recent webinar sponsored by PowerSchool, Dan Ryder, Director of Design and Innovation at CRCS Overman Schools in Maine, Greg Bagby, Coordinator of Instructional Technology at Hamilton County Schools, and Fred Scott, K-12 education veteran, talked about the recruitment and onboarding process in the education space.
Watch the full webinar for free on demand here
Unique Recruitment Obstacles
While there are tried and true methods of hiring employees, more nontraditional methods have become popular, especially in the world of education, to overcome recruitment obstacles. Greg Bagby served as a teacher, principal, and is now working in the district office providing support to principals in the process of vetting new teachers for their schools.
“Where Chattanooga is, we sit on the Tennessee-Georgia border and only until recently, like this year, the pay in my district was a little bit less than the surrounding districts were just across the state line,” said Bagby. “So it was a real challenge for us to recruit teachers to come to the district initially.”
The difference in support for public schools and their private counterparts also poses a hurdle when it comes to teachers deciding where to teach (and principals making public schools a desirable location).
Dan Ryder recalled how his district provides for students from a variety of backgrounds while also existing in a politically mixed environment, which influences the educational hiring process.
Fred Scott discussed how recruitment used to be a simple process for educational decision-makers and what teachers are now looking for in terms of employment expectations.
“There are three things that I have experienced in hiring large numbers of people and working with people. They want to be respected, they want their work to be inspected, and they also want to have solid expectations of what their job is. Those are the three things,” said Scott.
Being aware of what goals teachers have and where they want to be is important as it makes teachers feel more appreciated as employees and as people.
How to Recruit Quality Teachers
Regardless of the obstacles educational leaders may face, the recruitment process is important to providing quality education for students. Finding the right teachers might not involve the traditional recruitment process, as Ryder explained. At times, it might venture outside of the box.
“We started doing what most people do, which is put it out on your job posting sites,” said Ryder. “That’s been our primary driver for years. Then it was also going to your college fairs and visiting teacher prep programs, and that's been fine. But what has been really helpful for us to get the word out is using social media to constantly be talking about what we’re doing and that we’re always looking for people.”
Word of mouth seems to be a more preferred way to find educators who not only fit the culture of a school or district but also are genuinely interested in working in that particular environment. Using platforms such as Facebook can be great ways to provide insight to what happens inside the school.
Using searches for larger districts can help to refine the type of teacher for which you may be looking. In this case, traditional recruitment can help, but modern recruitment practices can also help to refine the educators who will become a perfect fit for a particular school or district.
How to Onboard Educators Successfully
After you find the right candidates, how you bring them into a new culture is key to helping create a solid relationship.
Scott explained that creating a clear communication path between teachers and their higher ups is important to fostering continuing success. Being clear on what teachers need to do in the classroom is also important. Providing support, training, and resources can make the difference between successful and unsuccessful teachers.
Bagby mentioned that he treats prospective teachers like they are already part of the team. This may involve in-class activity, but it can also feature out-of-the-class activities such as inviting teachers to lunch. Talking about teaching and expectations in a comfortable environment can help people relax, Bagby said, and giving teachers a stress-free introduction to the culture of a school can go a long way in helping teachers have a fruitful beginning in a new school or district.
