Texas school districts present job options, give career advice
Photo by Brianda Morales
Education majors recieved face-to-face meetings with possible employeers Friday at the Education Career Fair. More than 20 representatives from different locations in Texas participated to recruit and offer advice to education majors.
“The Education Fair is a great venue to bring students, graduates and employers together in one place,” said Dirk Welch, director of the Career Management Center. “A few other benefits to job seekers are they are able to meet directly with hiring decision makers. They meet with many employers in one location during a short period of time and employers are able to put a face and personality with a job seekers application.”
It is no secret that the job market for education majors is tough. The Texas educational system has been subjected to budget cuts in the billions by legislators.
The brunt of the impact is less today compared to past years, but school administrators are still faced with the challenge of providing high-quality education on low budgets, shortages of staff and reduced salaries.
Sheri Blankenship, assistant superintendent of professional services at Hereford Independent School District, confirmed that the budget cuts have not deterred the need for young teachers in the classrooms.
“I would describe the education atmosphere as being a little controversial at this time, particularly today with the sequestration and federal programs,” Blankenship said. “But I think also it’s a great time to get into education because it is one of those fields that will always be around. We are always looking for young teachers who are willing to come into the classrooms and expose our students to new innovative ideas.”
Welch also admits that despite all these circumstances, which resulted from the budget crisis, it will not increase or decrease students’ ability to find jobs post-graduation.
“Education still remains one of the better options in terms of job market demand and opportunities,” Welch said. “The increase or decrease in one’s ability to find jobs post-graduation has much to do with the specific discipline in education, the geographic location in which one is conducting the job search and how prepared they are to market themselves through the application process.”
The budget cuts have not deterred current education majors from the field.
Tonya Parham, senior in special education, is more concerned with how effective she will be in the classroom.
“Every time there is a cut in funding it limits what you can do in the classroom and that is a fear of mine,” Parham said. “When you’re trying to catch up to other countries and you’re trying to do that by more impact or more force at one time, it is overwhelming to everybody and then they are cutting funds and it does not work very well.”
Ruth Prosser, administrator at Killeen Independent School District said the job market for teachers will always exist.
In fact, every year, teachers are hired in her district.
“There is lots of talk of the sequester that is coming now but a couple years ago we felt more of an impact and did a little downsizing in our district a couple years ago,” Prosser said. “Today I am a part of a growing district so we continue to hire people every year. We have to do more with less and be careful how we spend our money, but overall I think we are doing okay.”
Jim Phillips, retired principle of Burkburnett Independent School District, further said that the difficulties that may exists for students are that too many of them focus on one area instead of specializing in areas like math or science.
“I’ve always thought that there was a teaching job for everyone that wanted to teach,” Phillips said. “Over the last couple years that is not necessarily so, they might have to move. They need to get specific credentials in order to teach not just on ECC6 generalist. I would encourage them to go into the math and science field and look to see where there is a ton of childhood teacher
Tips
Jennifer Parker, Teacher at Sherman Independent school district
- Be open to change as far as location a lot of times when we come to these we see kids they want to be in one place over another, but a lot of times other cities that you have never been to have a lot to offer.
- Be open to suggestions as far as what you want to teach or where you want to teach. In a few different schools you realize that students are one way and that different school requires different things.
- When you go to events like this look nice, be professional and ask questions.
Ruth Prosser, Administrator, Killeen Independent school district
- Be willing to move where the jobs are.
- Be open to lots of possibilities.
- Talk about the things you have already done because the employer might need some of those things.
- Be willing to work with a team.
Sheri Blankenship, Assistant superintendent of Professional Services at Hereford Independent School District
- Dress for success,
- Be ready and be prepared. Be prepared for a full-time job.
- Work ethic and morals are an extreme importance and I would encourage them to use that every day.
- Don’t assume anything and always be ready and willing.
- For young educators I would encourage them to get out and make them self visible whether it be through tutoring or volunteering. All opportunities that they get to volunteer they need to get out and volunteer.
