HISD looks to California for teachers
Houston Business Journal - by Christine Hall Reporter
California’s loss might be Houston’s gain.
Houston Independent School District officials are heading to California this week to host recruitment sessions in an effort to snag some of the 5,000 California teachers who were recently issued preliminary layoff notices.
Carmen Rowan, recruitment team leader at HISD, said the trip was part of the district's revamped recruitment program aimed at more focused efforts. Rowan will be in California through this week meeting education students at various universities.
"We also thought it would be worthwhile to open up recruitment to teachers who may receive a pink slip," she added.
Some 20,000 teachers in California are expected to be handed pink slips in the coming months, according to the California Department of Education.
Rowan will be looking to make some hires in what she said are “critical shortage areas:” Bilingual education, secondary math and secondary science.
She said the district has faced challenges in finding true bilingual teachers — meaning those who speak both languages fluently and can effectively teach — as well as secondary math
