WHAT: Fresno State’s Annual Teacher Recruitment Fair
WHEN: Thursday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Lunch break from noon to 1 p.m.)
WHERE: Fresno Convention Center’s New Exhibit Hall in downtown Fresno.
WHO: More than 500 prospective teacher candidates will be available for interviews by 83
school districts that have registered and approximately 375 administrators.
The fair, presented by the Career Services Office and Kremen School of Education and Human Development, is open only to pre-registered Fresno State students, not the general public. Media coverage is permitted.
VISUALS Best photo opportunities will probably be between 10 a.m. and noon as well as 1:30
to 2:30 p.m. Ask at entrance for Diana Dille.
THE STORY
The number of districts is up 15 over last year, reports Diana Dille, coordinator of Fresno State’s Education Career Services program, reflecting the increased number of retirements that are expected this year in many districts.
Additionally, several local districts are experiencing very large growth spurts so the increased enrollment is requiring more teachers, Dille said.
“Sanger, Selma, Central, Clovis and Madera are all saying that they are building new schools or are planning to build new schools so they will require more teachers,” she said.
She also noted that that No Child Left Behind has required the removal of all teachers teaching on emergency credentials so that has created new job opportunities for credentialed students.
“There continue to be shortages in several areas so many districts are attending in order to try to pick up teachers in these shortage areas: Math and Special Ed severe shortages; Science, English some shortages.”
Dille said the number of candidates has remained consistent which seems to indicate that the passing scores for CSET exam are holding strong.
“We have a large number of returning alumni who are indicating that they have been ‘pink slipped’ so they are attending just to cover their bases in case they are not rehired,” she said.
