McNeese Spring 2018 School District Recruitment Fair

McNeese State University’s Career and Student Development Center will host the 2018 Spring School District Recruitment Fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, April 10, in the Ward Arena of the Recreational Sports Complex.

Representatives from 18 school districts in Louisiana and four districts from Texas are expected to attend, including representatives from Calcasieu and Cameron Parish School Systems. The Louisiana Association of Educators will also be in attendance, providing information to students on the organization and the benefits of joining.

According to Career and Student Development Center Coordinator Lin Burgess, this event is different from a career fair. “At our recruitment fair, attendees can actually sit down with district recruiters and do on-the-spot interviews for positions that are available. Attendees also have the opportunity to ask recruiters questions that they might not be able to at a career fair, specifically in regards to pay and benefits,” she says.

“We even encourage those students who aren’t ready to graduate to attend the fair,” she adds. “That one-on-one interaction with professionals gives them the opportunity to practice their professional networking and interactive skills.”

Burgess also stresses that the fair is open to all students and alumni. The fair, she says, is intended to help districts fill all of their openings, not just teaching positions.

“School districts will be looking to recruit for other open professional positions. If there are openings in the accounting department or with the school board office, recruiters will be looking to fill those positions. We like to open it up to all majors to fulfill whatever needs the school districts might have,” she says.

And students who are not education majors but are looking to transition into the teaching field are also encouraged to attend. “Because of teacher shortages, a lot of the districts there are looking for people who are not necessarily education majors. Districts are especially looking for students in STEM fields. So, recruiters can talk to those attendees about how to pursue alternative teacher certification through programs like those at McNeese and what this entails,” she says.

McNeese offers both a spring and a fall school district recruitment fair and Burgess says it’s free. “We encourage all participants to dress professionally and bring their resumes.”

For more information or to see what school districts are participating, visit www.mcneese.edu/career/events or call 337-475-5612. Persons needing accommodations as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the ADA Coordinator at 337-475-5428, voice; 337-475-5960, fax; 337-562-4227, TDD/TTY, hearing impaired; or by email at cdo@mcneese.edu.