Valley View outlines expanded recruitment and retention strategies, including Handshake outreach and international educators
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Summary
Director of Human Resources Dr. Margo Schmidt presented a multi-pronged recruitment and retention plan: expanded in-person/virtual job fairs, targeted online platforms (Indeed, LinkedIn, Handshake), increased student-teacher placements, early childhood dual-credit apprenticeships, cohorts to certify paraprofessionals, and an application for up to
The Valley View CUSD 365U Board of Education on Jan. 13 received an update on recruitment and retention strategies from Director of Human Resources Dr. Margo Schmidt.
Schmidt said the human resources office plans a substantial expansion of in-person and virtual job fairs ("over a 300% increase" from the prior year) and will use targeted online platforms including Indeed, LinkedIn and Handshake to broaden outreach regionally and nationally. She said Handshake provides access to students and recent graduates across the U.S., and cited a local hire who responded to a Handshake posting the day the district launched that channel.
The presentation outlined six recruitment strategies: more job fairs, targeted online recruiting, increasing student teacher placements with university partners, expanding dual-credit early childhood programs tied to a summer ESY (Extended School Year) apprenticeship, pursuing up to 30 international educators through Illinois State Board of Education visiting international educator programs, and developing hiring incentives with the union for hard-to-fill positions. Schmidt said the international educator effort is grant-funded.
On retention, the district described reimagining the new-teacher mentoring program in partnership with the union; supporting 24 paraprofessionals in cohorts pursuing degrees and certification; developing "grow-your-own" leadership cohorts (aspiring administrators through Lewis University); and expanding noncertified career pathways in transportation and nutrition services.
Board members responded positively in discussion, asked about acronyms and target universities, and sought confirmation that the international educator initiative is grant funded. Schmidt confirmed it is grant funded and said the district will pursue partnerships with Illinois and out-of-state institutions to recruit candidates.
Ending: The district encouraged board members and community members to share job postings on LinkedIn and other platforms to increase reach; staff said the plan aims to fill hard-to-staff positions and strengthen the district's educator pipeline.