So today is the Job Fair for Local District 8, being held on Henry Clay Campus.
A large number of schools from that Local District are said to be arriving, taking resumes, and interviewing. It will run from 3PM (our closing time) until about 6PM. Many of our own staff are attending…although teachers with standing RIF notices are still, as Alanis Morisette says, “uninvited.”
I have to admit that I don’t know what to expect. Yesterday was educational as to the format of the Job Fairs…but we are still a bit adrift about when offers might be made, or what the probability of an interview would be. Yesterday, Team Kuppersmith was part of the small number of teachers interviewed. Today, we’re not so sure. Even if we do pull interviews…we know less about the schools.
I find myself envious of the teachers that seem to know other schools like the backs of their hands.
Also, today, there was a mild freak out session, as we discovered that Palms Middle School is not only interviewing a friend of the team from Muir, but also two Clay teachers. Muir is a fabulous school…and I wish the best of luck to those people. All of those interviews were the result of the teachers being “go getters” and cold calling.
Rendering the “job fair” aspect suspect. Perhaps we should simply be sending out resumes cold, to “reach schools,” almost like reliving college application.
The Hammer Lane 
Question: Who has two thumbs and thinks the job fair was a waste of time?
Answer: 90% of the people there.
There were a few schools who were legitimately looking to hire, or at least screen, applicants. However, most schools were there just because they were told to be, or they were are in desperate need because they can’t fill spots in any other way.
Approximately six schools did not show up. The reason they did not attend is because they are well respected schools that don’t need to recruit. I have an interview with one of them tommorow because I bypassed protocol and emailed the principal directly.
Truly, the Job Fair was a disappointment.
33 percent of Team Kuppersmith got offers, and 50 percent interviewed. However….we got more in the way of return off a cold resume submission that we did yesterday, than we did in the two hours spent today.
Also…it was implied that this was mostly a Clay staff event. The Clay staff were hugely outnumbered by the other District 8 employees….putting us at a serious numerical disadvantage.
Many people echoed your criticism, Donovan.
That guy is smart AND funny!