Do public schools wait to hire teachers until the end of summer?

Question

I am a recent graduate from college. I have a BA in elementary education and a teaching license. I have been putting in applications since May at every public school district in the area that I live in (within a 35 minute drive).

Now to my question, I have had NONE of the schools call me in for an interview! I am starting to get worried! I have talked to several teachers and all have said that districts wait until the end of the summer to hire. Is that true? If so, why do they do so? Do they wait until a few weeks before school starts or just days? Please give me any advice or knowledge you have because I have been worrying myself silly over the past month!

Answer 1

It really does depend on the district. Some districts are amazing bad at planning ahead, and very well could call you a week before school starts. I read some of the answers that think this technique is crazy, but I've received calls from districts that I applied to months earlier who are just now getting around to interviewing. I was hired for my first job in October because the teacher had said that she was retiring and the school did nothing to find a replacement, and tricked her into subbing in her own classroom for a month before she just flatly refused to come back, and only then did they decide it was time to take interviews. Never underestimate the counterproductivity of administration.

Answer 2

It probably varies by location. If experienced teachers are telling you they hire late where you are, then that's probably what happens.

Where I live, the only schools hiring late are the ones that are so bad they have few or no applicants. The ones in my town hire during the spring semester for fall positions.

Answer 3

Where I live, I think there is some re-shuffling of teachers that go on past the beginning of the summer. There seems to be a lot of movement in May/June...then those positions get filled with people within the district...then those position get filled with newer teachers later in the summer.  Many principals take their vacations in July, so things go on hold. So don't lose hope yet!

It isn't easy here for new teachers to find jobs. You may want to put your name on substitute teacher rosters--substitute teaching is a great way to meet other teachers, meet principals, and show your stuff.  That may be the best way to open a door into a public school.  I was a new teacher last year and I took a job at a small private school.  The pay is not great-there are no benefits even, but the experience will look good on the resume when I am ready to start looking again.

Good luck to you, don't lose hope yet!

Answer 4

I actually think you do have cause to question why you haven't been called at all (I'm really sorry).

True: A lot of teachers don't get hired until July, even August, BUT: usually they have had some type of screening interview.

Most schools do a "screening" interview in the spring/early summer, then hire through the summer as positions become available.  They either offer a contract outright or send out the "blue chip" candidates (candidates that did well on the screening interview) to the principals to interview  and the principal makes the final choice.  Most new hires occur in July.  Hiring then slows down after end of July because in most districts teachers that leave their positions after July are breaking their contract and face penalties and new teacher training starts in August.

I'd be concerned that you haven't gotten ANY calls for even a prelim. interview.  Most HR people will be happy to tell you why you haven't been called.

***NOTE: And in most districts, principals can't even consider you until you've had a screeening interview - so calling schools isn't going to help you at all.  You need to deal with this at a district level.  Once you have district interview, then you can market yourself to the principals directly.

You need to be a squeeky wheel.  It may not be personal, but that others were more proactive.  Call and ask to speak to HR about why you haven't been interviewed yet.

Instead of worrying put that anxious energy to use, get on it, make some phone calls, knock on some doors and put yourself out there.  Those are the people that get hired.

In the meantime, put yourself on the substitute roster for as many schools as you can.  It's a great way to market yourself to principals.  Also, look for any teacher recruitment fairs.

Answer 5

yes

Answer 6

It depends-

I don't think they want to wait or wait on purpose....

Sometimes enough kids move into a town during the summer and then they NEED to add another classroom  therefore need another.

Sometimes they have to wait for budget reasons.

Sometimes they just don't find a desired candidate during the first round(s) of interviews and they need open up the process again.

I think  that most schools AVOID waiting and only do so if needed....

If I were you I would contact as many of the schools as you can.  I would even go into the schools when you can and hand deliver your resume.

I would also STRONGLY recommend that if you do not get a classroom job, consider an aides job or being a permanent substitute.  You need to get your foot in the door and sometimes you just have to "pay your dues" your first couple years.  When you go into "hand deliver" your resume ask them about  any positions that may be available.

Another quick piece of advice...NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK... tell everyone you know you are looking.  Parents that hired you to babysit, teacher's you've worked with student teaching, family friends...you may not know anyone that works for a school, but perhaps you might know someone that volunteers at a school...

But again, be prepared to pay your dues for your first two years... it may require a 2nd non teaching job, but it will be well worth it.

Answer 7

Usually the need for teachers is not known by a school district until the end of a school year when teachers announce they will not be returning. The law requires a job opening to be advertised for a certain amount of time before they can legally hire another. Sometimes there are shifts in teaching assignments because of a vacant position where one teacher can move into another teacher's position, so these shifts take time too. Anyway, by the time all of these requirements are met it is the end of a summer.

Answer 8

They probably wouldn't wait until the end of the summer to hire teachers because it takes a while to plan and set up the classroom/environment. The school also has to assign students to their teachers (which wouldn't be on delay for so long).

Try to talk to the person that interviewed and ask when you'll get a reply.

Answer 9

Have you taken your resume and copies of your credentials into the main building OR administration building for the districts you have been applying to?  Sometimes, it's nice to have the real thing on file.  Also, are there any job fairs you can attend?  Usually, last minute things happen and they need people immediately.  Follow up with the districts - ask their HR office if they have received everything they need and that you are "Just checking".  Sometimes, follow-ups lead to acknowledgment.  Good luck!

Answer 10

In most school districts, there is a cut-off date when teachers are to inform them that they will not be returning. I believe it is some time in July for my school district. Once this date passes, the district will have a more accurate idea of how many positions they will need to fill.

Don't fret. When the schools in your area re-open, you may want to call or visit the schools and personally drop off your resume to the principals. Dress professionally when you do!

Answer 11

In many schools there is a draft, where teachers with longevity have opportunities to take open positions over those without the same experience.  You can imagine the chain reaction that goes on down the line as this re-shuffling takes place.  This stalls hiring, but usually they have a cut-off date which the vacant positions are open to new-hires.  I'm not sure what state you're in, but I would imagine that this process goes on for at least 1 month from the end of school.