Education Week - January 30, 2013 - 31

Education WEEK

DIRECTORS/MANAGERS/
COORDINATORS

January 30, 2013

www.edweek.org

TOP SCHOOL JOBS’s
CAREER CORNER BLOG

Job Search Tips for
Experienced Teachers

Adlai E. Stevenson
High School
Lincolnshire, Illinois

Stevenson High School, one of the leading secondary schools in the
State of Illinois, is seeking an exceptional individual to join the
District’s leadership team. Stevenson is a four-time winner of the U.S.
Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Award. The school is the
cradle of the Professional Learning Community (PLC) movement and
hosts over two thousand educators who wish to learn from the
Stevenson model annually. Five hundred staff and 4,000 students
enjoy the school’s state-of-the-art campus located in the northern
suburbs of Chicago. Approximately 98% of Stevenson’s graduates
pursue post-secondary education.

The Career Corner blog received two questions related
to job search woes from highly experienced teachers.

DIRECTOR OF MATHEMATICS

Question: I am a mid-fifties professional with seventeen years of experience in special education and math
who is currently unemployed. I was squeezed out of a
district with a mandate to hire young, cheap, local talent. I know that math, science, and special education
teachers are in high demand. What can I do to make
myself more marketable in California, where budgets
are tight and experience is a synonym for expensive?

The Director of Mathematics is a full-time, 10.5-month administrative
assignment. The individual serves as a member of the school’s
leadership team and is responsible for the supervision and evaluation
of faculty and staff in the mathematics division. The Director is
responsible for the management of the mathematics curriculum and
ensuring the effectiveness of the program.
Starting Date: August 2013

Question: I am an educator of 15 years with my masters in education. I moved to a new state 5 years ago
and cannot find work. Principals tell me that I am too
expensive and that they can only hire teachers with
3 or less years of teaching experience. I sub but that
is not fulfilling or much of a pay check. What do over
qualified teachers do in this situation and economy?

Interested candidates should submit an online application and
mail/attach a letter of interest, résumé, copies of transcripts, and three
letters of reference to: Steve Cummins, Director of Human
Resources, Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Two Stevenson
Drive, Lincolnshire, IL 60069. A detailed vacancy announcement
and the online application can be found at www.d125.org.
Application deadline: February 8, 2013

Response: Both questions focus around the idea that experience equals expense and that school districts are finding
themselves forced to make hiring decisions that are seen
as the most low-cost for their districts, which would equate
to hiring teachers with less experience. In considering
these questions, I would suggest: a) broadening one's job
search to include bigger districts; b) considering non-traditional positions; and c) taking a new look at networking.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

As noted by two school district HR representatives,
who are members of AAEE, expanding the job search
to include larger school districts may help to increase
chances of success for a more experienced teacher.
* I think the answer will depend on where to concentrate your job search. Smaller districts may have to
look at the budget in selecting candidates; however,
most large districts are still looking for the most qualified candidate available, regardless of cost. In my district, the person who interviews and selects is different from the person who figures salary and offers the
position. I would recommend that you concentrate
your job search in large districts where cost may be
viewed ly. - Jack Kronser, Aurora Public Schools, CO

FUSE seeks a dynamic, courageous and innovative School Leader
who is committed to excellence for every child and will accept
nothing less. This individual must be a highly motivated, missiondriven leader who sweats the small stuff without losing sight of
the big picture. The ideal Principal candidate will have a proven
track record of:
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EOE

* Both cases are very dependent on local situations.
In most of the larger districts the principals (those interviewing and recommending the hire) don't know
what salary their teacher will make because that is the
responsibility of HR. Most districts will, however, limit
the number of years they will accept depending on the
position. If you feel that your opportunities are limited
because of economic situations you may have to broaden your search for a job to areas where more opportunities exist. - Todd Fukai, Cherry Creek Schools, CO

MuLTIPLE

Beyond expanding the job search to larger districts, a
more adventurous option may be to explore non-traditional career paths. Having significant experience in education is an asset and has likely allowed for the development of a wide variety of transferable skills that would
be relevant in many professional settings. Consider doing
some self-reflection on your strengths and career interests
and conduct some research on education-related career
paths you may be interested in, such as corporate training. Explore different career paths through previous blog
postings on this site; use O*Net online (try the advanced
search tab to search careers based on interests or skills).
Additional options may inspire a broader job search, or
simply reinvigorate your education-related job search with
some added self-knowledge and a feeling of versatility.
Finally, as many have alluded to in other posts on the Career Corner Blog--networking is key! Subbing may be frustrating as far as pay, but may house a wealth of networking
opportunities that can help provide some insider information when a new position opens up. Plus, in working in a
district you have a chance to make a positive impression.
Treat each day like an interview, and one day it might become one. No matter what, own your experience. Having
years of experience and/or an advanced degree is not a
liability--it is a testament to your hard work and is part of
the value you can contribute in a teaching position. Articulate solid examples from your previous experiences that
highlight the great skills you can bring to a classroom...
To read the complete blog post, visit http://blogs.edweek.
org/topschooljobs/careers
The opinions expressed are strictly those of the author and
do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education.

http://www.edweek.org http://www.d125.org http://www.fuse180.org http://www.SelaPCS.org http://blogs.edweek.org/topschooljobs/careers

Education Week - January 30, 2013

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