SCPS teacher candidates get VIP treatment at Princess Anne recruitment event
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – Somerset County Public Schools (SCPS) isn’t unique when it comes to a nationwide teacher shortage. However, what is unique, is how the district is trying to tackle it.
Rolling Out the Red Carpet
The key to finding and attracting qualified educators, say district leaders, is treating them VIPs. SCPS did just that, literally rolling out a red carpet for a recruitment event, in front of Squeaky’s Cafe Wednesday morning.
“It’s a very difficult career. It’s very demanding, and it can be very exhausting at times. One of the big things is we want our teachers to feel like they’re VIP,” said SCPS Staff Data Manager, Christy South. “We wanted to welcome them like VIPs right from the start. So, we wanted to be very literal in that; rolling out the red carpet, making them feel special, making them know that they are valued.”
Going For Gold
Teacher candidates made the rounds through Squeaky’s; stopping at tables representing individual schools in SCPS for on-the-spot interviews. Those who SCPS wanted to bring aboard right away, getting a literal golden ticket.
JD Miller was just one of dozens of candidates in the process. He works as a paraprofessional in SCPS already, but says he spent the morning on the job hunt because he wanted to make even more of a difference in his community.
“I’m already passionate about the students, and I want to see what I can do to be able to help develop our up and coming youth,” said Miller. “I think they need a male leader, and I think that influence, especially with young boys, will be critical to help their development if they see another male figure in the schools.”
Miller says the experience was rewarding, and offers this advice to others on a similar path:
“It is a great, beautiful thing. So many people are excited, and a lot of the people here that are interviewing are excited about bringing new people on as well,” said Miller. “Stay on the path. Keep moving forward. There are going to be hiccups, there are going to be bumps in the road, all that. But, you just stay on the course, and you’ll see the outcome that you want.”
Battling the Teacher Shortage
This recruitment effort comes as schools across the state of Maryland, and the nation, are struggling to fill out their educator positions.
“It’s been a challenge for us to find teachers to fill classrooms, it’s been a challenge to keep teachers in the profession, and the lack of teachers in education programs at higher institutions of education has been dwindling,” said SCPS Director of Human Resources Beth Whitelock. “We’re having to recruit and market into the business community, other professions, and then train them to become teachers.”
Whitelock says many factors are playing into the teacher shortage. “Part of it is financial, with the income piece, part of it is also the rigor and the difficulty in keeping up with certifications and coursework, and the demands of education,” she said.
And, SCPS leaders say there are a few specific areas where the shortage is being felt the most. “We have needs in those high demand areas, such as special education, math, science, foreign language,” said SCPS Deputy Superintendent Tom Davis.
Small But Mighty
SCPS prides itself on its motto: small but mighty. And, those who serve the school system say that’s what makes it great place to mold the minds of young students.
“We have small class sizes, and Somerset County is a small community, and it’s a small school system. We believe we have a family atmosphere,” said Davis. “We do have the opportunity to focus on each individual child, and to cater our instruction to meet their needs. I think that’s very important.”
But, the district’s smaller size isn’t just to the benefit of its students, says SCPS Director of Schools Traci Bartemy. “You’re not a number. Everybody really knows your name, and so we have the hashtag ‘small but mighty’, but it’s true. It’s a great place to work, and it really is a family atmosphere,” she said.
