Indian River recruits 'brightest and the best' teachers

• "This way we will know more of the brightest and the best will be available."

The rapidly growing Indian River School District will host it's first teacher's recruitment on Feb. 21 in Ocean City

The fair will include seven districts and two vendors, according to the event's website, with the goal of matching teachers with vacancies on Delmarva. Superintendent Susan Bunting said even without specific jobs in mind, it will allow the district to find good candidates to fill future positions.

"I think we need to see what's out there," she said. "We want to introduce people to Indian River."

The fair asks candidates to bring their resumes, PRAXIS scores and proof of anticipated certification areas.

Even if Indian River weren't growing there is always a need to bring in new people, Bunting said.

"This way we will know more of the brightest and the best will be available," she said. "Instead of our going to a variety of colleges, this is a way to bring them to us."

While there are few vacancies currently in the district, Bunting said, its elementary schools have expanded in size and number of students. Expansions adding eight new classrooms North Georgetown Elementary are now complete, and in mid-January students moved in. Another eight classrooms have been added to East Millsboro Elementary School, and students are expected to move in mid-February. Long Neck Elementary is also getting eight more classrooms, expected to be complete by the end of February.

The number of students enrolled in grades 1-4 has increased 22 percent since the 2008-2009 school year, according to the Delaware Department of Education, while overall growth has increased 16 percent — 4.3 percent this year alone.

"The vast majority of that growth is up at the northern end of the district," assistant superintendent Mark Steele said.

Long Neck Elementary seems to be growing, Steele said, and the district's new Georgetown Kindergarten Center already reported 349 students enrolled this fall.

The district is also growing more diverse, Bunting said. A prime example is the change in the number of district students identified as Hispanic. In the 2008-2009 school year Hispanic enrollment was at 20.1 percent of the student population, while this year it was at 28.8 percent.

"All of our demographic groups are expanding," she said.

The number of English Language Learner (ELL) students has also more than doubled in that time frame, from less than five percent to 11.7 percent this year.

The district is seeking any particular skill set related to those growth areas —they just want to find good teachers, Bunting said.

"I would say the main thing we're looking for, always looking for, is high-quality educational knowledge," she said. "We want to get the best instructors in our classroom."

The district is always keeping an eye out for specialty areas, such as school psychologists and speech pathologists, she added.

In addition to Indian River, New Castle County VoTech, Cesar Rodney, Capital, Laurel, Seaford and Christina school districts have registered. Vendors Join Delaware Schools and University of Delaware Alternative Routes to Certification will also be there.

The event is being held in partnership with Academic Partnerships LLC.

rpacella@dmg.gannett.com

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On Twitter @rachaelpacella

IF YOU GO

MID-EASTERN SHORE EDUCATOR RECRUITING FAIR

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. February 21

Where: Clarion Resort Fontainbleu Hotel, 101 St., Ocean City

Web: www.apllc.org

Cost: $15 to register in advance, $20 day of