Warsaw School Board Discusses Need For Teachers
January 12, 2022 at 3:59 a.m.
Warsaw School Board Discusses Need For Teachers
By Jackie Gorski-
Director of Human Resources Sheila Howe said WCS is gearing up for a career fair and early hire season.
“We’re actively starting to pursue some of our opportunities,” she said.
Howe said an urgent plea was sent out to WCS staff to reach out to places like family and their churches to anyone who would be willing to work for WCS, “whether it be full-time, part-time. We’re opening up to flexible schedules.”
Board Vice President Randy Polston said you hear the topic of work shortages on the news every day and all the extra duties teachers and principals have because they couldn’t find anyone.
Polston asked when was the earliest career fair WCS usually tries to participate in. Howe said WCS just scheduled one in April at Indiana Wesleyan in Fort Wayne. Howe said WCS has not been receiving the usual career fair opportunities they usually have been. Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert said there have been some in February and March, but they have been cancelled in the past couple years.
Hoffert wandered if the career fairs would do any good.
One of the things WCS is doing is having on-the-job interviews with student teachers in the school corporation. As soon as WCS knows a position is open, they’re going to hire student teachers and hire them early, Hoffert said. The same thing goes with other applicants, as well.
There were some early graduates from Grace College and WCS hired five of them. They started their positions Monday, Howe said.
“It’s going to be hire early,” Hoffert said. He said, in years past, WCS has tried to have all its hirings go out on May 1, but if the school corporation waits until May to start hiring staff, there won’t be any applicants left.
Hoffert said there are a lot of school systems in Indiana that are short on teachers, leaving classrooms unfilled. So the goal this spring will be to fill as many positions as possible.
Hoffert said usually WCS has between 25 and 30 student teachers at its schools each year, and they’re split between special education and other areas. Some of those student teachers decide to go back to their home area for positions and not stay in the Warsaw area. There are student teachers from schools like Goshen College, Ball State and Grace College.
In other business, the Board:
• Learned carpet at Eisenhower Elementary School was put in.
• Approved meeting dates and times for 2022.
• Affirmed the school board of ethics.
• Approved Heather Reichenbach as president, Polston as vice president and Jeremy Mullins as secretary for 2022.
Director of Human Resources Sheila Howe said WCS is gearing up for a career fair and early hire season.
“We’re actively starting to pursue some of our opportunities,” she said.
Howe said an urgent plea was sent out to WCS staff to reach out to places like family and their churches to anyone who would be willing to work for WCS, “whether it be full-time, part-time. We’re opening up to flexible schedules.”
Board Vice President Randy Polston said you hear the topic of work shortages on the news every day and all the extra duties teachers and principals have because they couldn’t find anyone.
Polston asked when was the earliest career fair WCS usually tries to participate in. Howe said WCS just scheduled one in April at Indiana Wesleyan in Fort Wayne. Howe said WCS has not been receiving the usual career fair opportunities they usually have been. Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert said there have been some in February and March, but they have been cancelled in the past couple years.
Hoffert wandered if the career fairs would do any good.
One of the things WCS is doing is having on-the-job interviews with student teachers in the school corporation. As soon as WCS knows a position is open, they’re going to hire student teachers and hire them early, Hoffert said. The same thing goes with other applicants, as well.
There were some early graduates from Grace College and WCS hired five of them. They started their positions Monday, Howe said.
“It’s going to be hire early,” Hoffert said. He said, in years past, WCS has tried to have all its hirings go out on May 1, but if the school corporation waits until May to start hiring staff, there won’t be any applicants left.
Hoffert said there are a lot of school systems in Indiana that are short on teachers, leaving classrooms unfilled. So the goal this spring will be to fill as many positions as possible.
Hoffert said usually WCS has between 25 and 30 student teachers at its schools each year, and they’re split between special education and other areas. Some of those student teachers decide to go back to their home area for positions and not stay in the Warsaw area. There are student teachers from schools like Goshen College, Ball State and Grace College.
In other business, the Board:
• Learned carpet at Eisenhower Elementary School was put in.
• Approved meeting dates and times for 2022.
• Affirmed the school board of ethics.
• Approved Heather Reichenbach as president, Polston as vice president and Jeremy Mullins as secretary for 2022.
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