Larry Metzler has a problem—and so does the state of California.
“I don’t have enough teacher candidates,” said Metzler at the Fresno Pacific University Teacher Education Job Fair March 19, 2015. Metzler was among the School of Education faculty and staff welcoming representatives from a record number of area school districts—more than 50, plus the state prison school system and an international school—cramming the Special Events Center for the annual event.
Colorful banners advertising districts throughout the Central Valley stood above rows of folding tables and chairs where school administrators and teachers interviewed 125 FPU candidates. And there was more than just talk. “They’re handing out contracts,” Metzler said.
One of those offers went to Erin Carlson, a Clovis resident who completed her B.A. and teacher’s credential at FPU. But with another interview scheduled, she wanted to keep her options open. “I’ll make a decision today,” said Carlson, who plans to teach in grades K-3. “The job fair has given me the opportunity to interview with districts I wouldn’t have known about otherwise.”
Population growth, regulations lowering class size and Baby Boom-generation retirements are fueling high demand for teachers, a trend that is not expected to end soon. “We’re going to have a shortage of teachers for a few more years for sure,” Metzler said. Educators in math, science, special education and language arts are most in demand, but some districts were filling vacancies in social studies, art and throughout the elementary grades.
Kevin Wagner, interim assistant superintendent of human resources for the Central Unified School District, was one of those administrators with contracts in hand. “It’s a very competitive job market right now,” he said.
Top candidates show a passion for teaching and a love kids. “Also, somebody who’s been well-trained, and Fresno Pacific does a great job of that,” Wagner said. “We have many teachers in Central Unified that are from Fresno Pacific and they are outstanding young people.”
Districts are going to great lengths just to get candidates’ attention. “I have a district that’s asking if they can provide transportation and monetary incentives in order to get student teachers,” said David Jones, another School of Education faculty. “They hope the student teachers will stay with the district after they graduate.”
Even before the job fair, school officials had been calling the School of Education for weeks, looking for leads on good candidates. Some districts even hosted their own job fairs. “That’s a whole new concept,” Metzler said.