Alpena Public Schools Makes Hiring the Right Teacher a Top Priority

by Claudia Werner, Principal, Alpena High School and Cherie Nutter, Human Resources Director, Alpena Public Schools

With a large number of gifted teachers graduating from Michigan teacher preparation institutions, now is a great time for school districts to hire. So, what does it take to get a teaching job in Michigan these days?

To find an answer, let’s first look at the process most school districts use to recruit and hire a new teacher. In early April, K-12 school officials assigned to hire new teachers attend job fairs hosted by colleges and universities for graduating teachers. Job fair hosts invite potential employers from around the state and country for a full day of arena-style mini-interviews, giving employers an opportunity to meet and form a first impression of hundreds of candidates. Job fairs give job seekers an opportunity to contact many school districts at once and to promote themselves in a brief, but efficient manner. The district representatives spend upwards of a full week traveling across the state participating in each job fair, meeting candidates, and gathering resumes. Representatives also deal with resumes sent directly to districts and schools on a continual basis.

The real work begins after representatives return to their districts. The school’s human resources director first identifies what positions need to be filled prior to the next school year. Depending on contractual timelines regarding retirement notification and internal transfer procedures, they may not have full knowledge of openings until sometime in May. The district then posts and advertises these positions.

Once specific job openings have been identified, an administrative team usually reviews resumes and selects “Highly Qualified,” certified candidates to be interviewed. Depending on the certification area, there may be very few or more than 100 applicants for each position.

What do administrators look for in a candidate? They look for evidence that the candidate has sought a variety of opportunities to work with children and has pursued professional development specific to programs that the district may be using. They also look for prior teaching experience, experience in working collaboratively with others, experience in working with diverse student populations, experience using technology to enhance teaching and learning, and most importantly, whether or not the candidate presents him or herself well in writing. Nothing will send a resume to the bottom of the pile faster than errors in the cover letter or resume.

The next step in the hiring process is the interview itself. Most school districts assign a committee to interview candidates. The committee may consist of building principals, central office administrators, and, sometimes, experienced teachers. During the interview, the committee will assess how well candidates express themselves verbally, enthusiasm for teaching and working with children, knowledge of the subject area to be taught, knowledge of different learning styles and teaching strategies, use of assessment techniques, development of lesson plans, classroom management styles, and instruction matched with curriculum expectations. The members of the committee try to get a feel for how well the candidate will fit in with the current culture of the district, as well as the candidate’s professionalism and willingness to contribute time and talents beyond the classroom. Will a candidate bring something new to the building or district that is currently lacking? Are they flexible and willing to learn new approaches? Do they have the ability to work collaboratively with others? How will they communicate with parents? Are they committed to the academic success of all students?

Teaching is not an easy job. Prospective teachers who enjoy working with children and are passionate about providing all students with quality education should be able to secure a teaching position in Michigan and be successful throughout their career in education. The rewards, while often intangible, are certainly worth the commitment.

For more information, contact: Claudia Werner, President of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals and Principal, Alpena High School, 2373 Gordon Rd., Alpena, MI 49707, (989) 358-5200, wernerc@alpenaschools.com.

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