Big crowd likely at Phila. teacher-hiring fair

Philadelphia School District officials expect a heavy turnout at a Saturday teacher-recruitment fair.

About 1,200 people turned up for a similar event earlier this month, and Estelle Matthews, district human resources chief, said she expected a large crowd.

The fair is to run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the district headquarters, 440 N. Broad St.

"I think it's the economy," said Matthews. "I think it's New Jersey. We see a lot of career-changers, too." Many New Jersey schools are laying off teachers and bracing for big cuts to district budgets. Philadelphia, where turnover is high, typically hires hundreds of new teachers every year. Matthews said she had already seen a spike in New Jersey applicants.

She said she did not know how many jobs needed to be filled or which content areas were considered especially needy. The district's Renaissance school initiative - radical turnarounds in the 14 lowest-performing city schools - slowed down the hiring timeline this year, she said.

Renaissance schools will require teachers to work longer days and years, and some Saturdays. Teachers will also get a higher salary. A yet-to-be-determined number of the schools will be charters, with nonunion teachers not hired by the district. Five schools, the so-called Promise Academies, will be run by Superintendent Arlene Ackerman and her central office, staffed by district teachers. The remaining nine schools will partner with charters or organizations that plan to use district teachers. Decisions will be made at the end of the month. The fair is open to external candidates and current teachers transferring to other positions, voluntarily or otherwise.

Some teachers have already scheduled interviews. Others will be able to walk in and interview, provided they are certified to teach in Pennsylvania.