WILTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Schools across a number of counties in the North Country are having a difficult time recruiting teachers, as well as other staff. Warren-Saratoga-Washington-Hamilton-Essex (WSWHE) BOCES is holding a job fair next week to try and fill the gap.

On Wednesday, April 6, WSWHE BOCES will welcome in guests to hear about openings at schools across 12 area school distrists. The openings therein cover a wide range, from administrative staff members and teachers to different types of support staff. That includes everything from bus drivers and custodial staff to cafeteria workers. And, despite the BOCES chapter’s centralization, the problem is far from limited to just five counties.

“As recently as last week, a school district in Rensselaer County had to cancel classes due to a bus driver shortage,” said Turnia Parker, WSWHE BOCES Assistant Superintendent for Educational and Support Programs. “Districts in our service area have also been directly impacted by the bus driver shortage. We have seen superintendents stepping in to transport students in more rural districts. We have also seen building principals substituting for teachers while they are out.”

The problem is statewide, and bigger onward from there. Data from New York State United Teachers reports a 53% decrease in enrollment in New York State teacher education programs since 2009. Meanwhile, the New York State Teacher Retirement System projects that roughly one-third of all teachers within the state could retire over the next five years.

Registration can be found online. The Regional Schools Job Fair includes openings in the following positions:

Elementary

  • Kindergarten
  • Elementary grades 1-3
  • Elementary grades 4-6
  • Elementary Music
  • Literacy Grades 1-6
  • Students with Disabilities Grades 1-6
  • Speech

Secondary

  • Biology 7-12
  • Chemistry 7-12
  • Earth Science 7-12
  • English 7-12
  • Family/Consumer Science
  • French 7-12
  • Physics 7-12
  • Health
  • Math 7-12
  • School Media Specialist/Librarian
  • Students with Disabilities 5-9 Generalist
  • Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist
  • Students with Disabilities 7-12 ELA
  • Students with Disabilities 7-12 Social Studies
  • Social Studies 7-12
  • Technology 7-12

Classroom Support Staff

  • Teacher Aides
  • Teaching Assistants

Administrative

  • 10 Month Elementary Assistant Principal
  • K-12 Principal

Pupil Personnel Services

  • School Counselor
  • School Psychologist
  • School Social Worker
  • Teacher of Speech & Language Disabilities/Speech Pathologist
  • Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages

Other Instructional Staff

  • IT Computer Networking Instructor
  • Early Childhood Education Instructor
  • Small Animal Science Instructor

Non-Instructional Staff

  • Cleaning/Custodial Staff
  • Clerical Staff
  • Food Service Staff
  • Maintenance Staff
  • Monitor
  • School Bus Aide
  • School Bus Driver
  • School Nurse

Adult Education Instructors

  • CDL Instructor
  • Drivers Education Instructor
  • Marine Technology Instructor
  • Advanced Machine Tool Instructor
  • Residential Wiring Instructor

Summer Employment

  • Extended School Year

Substitute Positions

  • Teachers
  • Teaching Assistants
  • Teacher Aides
  • Clerical