By PAMELA GOULD
Economists predict the nation's unemployment will continue rising over the next few months, but teachers remain in demand in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties.
Stafford added 28 positions for the 2009-2010 school year, 25 of which were funded with federal stimulus money.
Spotsylvania has 132 fewer positions on the payroll for fiscal 2010, but has about two-dozen openings as a result of attrition and retirements. Spotsylvania schools used federal stimulus money to prevent
Spotsylvania was criticized for holding a job fair in March when it didn't have openings and expected to trim staff for the next school year, said Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Brenda Seals. But she knew from the pattern of previous years there would probably be vacancies by summer.
Now, she said the school division not only needs all of the strong candidates it identified during the fair, it needs another 20 to 25 people.
In particular, Spotsylvania is looking for math teachers, science teachers and speech therapists.
Stafford has openings for 15 full-time special education teachers and one part-timer, said Director of Human Resources Rick Fitzgerald. He also is seeking to fill 27 teaching positions in the elementary, middle and high schools.
As in Spotsylvania, most openings are the result of retirements and attrition.
For people with backgrounds in critical need areas such as math and science, or an interest in special education, Spotsylvania offers a Career Switcher Program that trains people to transition from another field into teaching.
Spotsylvania is the only school district in the state with its own program. Seals said that's the reason the system doesn't have a shortage of applicants for tough to fill areas such as special education.
There isn't time for someone to transition to teaching before school starts in Spotsylvania in August but people could be ready by the next school year, Seals said.
To apply for Spotsylvania positions or seek information on the Career Switcher Program, go to the school division Web site at spotsylvania.k12.va.us.
Stafford schools' online application is available at
Pamela Gould: 540/735-1972
Email: pgould@freelancestar.com