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Things to Keep in Mind - Teacher Recruiters
By Seth Klempner - Humboldt State University - Northern Vice President

When school district officials visit your college campus to recruit teachers, there are some things you should know. A lot of the times, these officials will come in with big flashy presentations that would make almost anyone want to work for them. Theyíll show you their generous salary ranges, which are usually well above state averages. They'll try to recruit you even if you haven't finished the credential program yet!

The trouble lies in the fact that new teachers in these districts (which, by the way are often are the largest urban districts in all of California) are not given any support. The new teachers are rarely put into beginning teacher support programs or even given a mentor teacher for assistance. I doubt many of us are up to the challenge of working in a large urban district without any support whatsoever (especially if we haven't finished our training yet). So here are some things to ask these district officials when they are on your campus recruiting:

1. If you are hired without a credential how long you do have to complete the necessary requirements?
2. When and where will you get your credential?
3. What types of beginning teacher support programs are offered? Are these programs available to all beginning teachers?
4. Will I be assigned a mentor teacher?
5. What is average length of time teachers stay in your schools?
6. How long, on average, do new teachers stay?

In conclusion, just remember the old saying that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. So when these district officials come in promising everything - that really translates into you'll be getting nothing. If these districts are recruiting all over the state, you have got to ask yourself why, and the reason might very well be that their new teachers are not staying very long. Is that the type of district you want to work for? I really doubt it.