by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
May 25 may have been the last day for students in Duval County, but Thursday marked the “first day” for many new Duval County Public School teachers.
The Duval County Public School’s Teacher Recruitment Fair was held at the Arena Thursday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Over a thousand prospective teachers lined up outside of the Arena waiting to sign-in before spending the day networking, interviewing and hopefully filling out new job forms.
“We have done this for several years, but this year is unique because it is the first time we had everybody preregister to be cleared to teach in Duval County,” said Jimminda Thompson, supervisor of recruitment and customer relations for the school system. “In the past we did that the day of the event.”
Those looking for teaching jobs in Duval County were able to register for this Fair last December online and in person at the Duval County School Board building on the Southbank. Candidates had to fill out a registration form and send in their educational transcripts.
“We had to make sure they took the appropriate exams for the area they want to teach in and also check their certification,” she said. “There is a certain level of wanting to have the power to say ‘yes’ to everyone, but we must make sure people have the proper credentials so our students receive the education they need.”
Those who were not eligible were contacted prior to Thursday’s Fair and advised on what they can do to be considered for a teaching position.
Over a thousand prospective teachers who registered had the chance to be offered a job during the Recruitment Fair. Thompson said those who showed up without registering were able to set up interviews for today and June 6.
Thompson said the new process made things a lot easier on school system employees as well as the candidates.
“It makes it easier on all of us,” she said. “We want to make sure we get them and we are able to keep them.”
Candidates began signing in at 8 a.m. Dozens of long tables were set up in the center of the Arena full of elementary and middle school principals from all 167 Duval County Schools, including the charter schools. Another room was used for the high schools. Around 8:30, candidates were able to network and talk to the schools’ principals.
Depending on what the principal wanted to do, they could interview the person on the spot or they could set up an interview for later in the day.
James Greene was one of the many looking for a job and he wasn’t sure what to expect going into the Recruitment Fair.
“I wasn’t expecting anything,” he said. “I just sat down and started talking to them. I didn’t have an interview and they hired me.”
Greene was offered a part-time teaching position at the LaVilla School of the Arts where he will teach art class to 6th and 7th graders. It was the second school he spoke to yesterday.
“I like the fact that I will be working for a school of the arts,” he said. “I know right off the bat that I will be working with good people and exciting students.”
Greene’s background is in fine art and printmaking. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of North Florida where he teaches design and screen printing. Greene was also the director of education at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville and is still teaching classes at the museum on Saturdays.
Greene is hoping the part-time job turns into a full-time job, whether it be at LaVilla or another school.
Once Greene had his paper showing he was hired, he went to one of the staffing tables and then to the new teacher orientation tables where he signed up for classes and orientation to prepare for the upcoming school year.
Thompson said part of the school district’s goal is to have no vacancies by the time school starts again in August.
“We want to fill the vacancies, and that is something we must give our attention to,” she said. “We hope to never have any vacancies, but people are going to be hired today, they will be hired as a result of today, and others will be hired throughout the summer.”
Last year over 200 jobs were filled through this Recruitment Fair. Lynn Levert, technical manager of recruitment for the school system, said she hopes they will break that record this year.
Thompson said they had a great team of people who worked to make sure the Recruitment Fair went as smoothly as possible and she hopes they will only have positive results from this year’s fair.
“We are hopeful that the experience the candidates had will only be a start and they will continue to have a wonderful experience with the Duval County School District,” she said.