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Career Advice Opinion

A Shopping List for Teachers and Districts

By AAEE — March 22, 2016 1 min read
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Teachers, you are looking for:


  • A good fit
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Collaboration
  • Technology integration
  • Program specifics
  • Individual interests
  • A place to make a difference

How do you get there?


  • Attend job fairs
  • Ask questions during job fairs, at the interview and follow up
  • Be prepared for your interview: take a resume and supporting documentation
  • Make connections through your College or University and your current/previous employers and experiences
  • Talk with your peers, practice interviewing, make the move together
  • Add additional endorsements to be more marketable

Ask yourself:


  • What do I want?
  • Where do I see myself?
  • Am I willing to move?
  • How did my interview go and what can I improve upon?
  • Who, besides myself, is going to help me be successful?
  • Why did I become a teacher? (Have that information ready in a quick 3-5 minute speech that you could give anywhere - you never know when you will run into someone that will ask)

Districts, you know what you need and want. How do you get there?


  • Partnerships with other local and out of state districts
  • Partnerships with local and out of state colleges and universities, for hiring and for current employees
  • Offer great opportunities for teachers: professional development, tuition assistance, grow-your-own programs (Teacher Cadet program or special education program cohorts for paraprofessionals), hiring bonuses, district/school tours, in-district job fairs, greater presence on social media. . . there are endless possibilities to find the just right balance of opportunities for each district

To Teachers and Districts: Always carry business cards/resume-- you may find your perfect match during your next shopping trip.

Amy Spruce

Certified Recruitment and Retention Administrator

Human Resources

Adams12 Five Star Schools

The opinions expressed in Career Corner are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.