College hosts record 700+ job interviews at Teacher Recruitment Day

SUNY New Paltz served as a gathering site for 125 teacher candidates and more than 40 school districts at Teacher Recruitment Day, as school administrators met with students in hopes of filling full-time positions, and current and future educators looked to take the next step in their careers.

A collaborative effort between the Career Resource Center and the School of Education, Teacher Recruitment Day is the very definition of “mutually beneficial.”

It offers teacher candidates a rare opportunity to weigh different employment options, meet administrators and workshop their interview skills in a professional setting.

“How it works is, you get in touch with the districts a few weeks in advance to set up interviews, and then here today you get 20 minutes or so of one-on-one time with them,” said Ashley Arocho, a part-time teacher who came to Teacher Recruitment Day looking for full-time opportunities. “I got here at 10 and had four interviews before noon. They went well – it’s a good way to develop interview skills and get your face recognized, and I feel confident.”

The event also gives districts access to a large pool of highly qualified candidates, at a time when many schools are facing the near-term prospect of clustered retirements and teacher shortages (both nationally and on the state level).

Three-time New Paltz alumnus Steve Rappleyea ’94, ’98g (Psychology), ’14g (School Leadership), executive director of Family and Student Support Services, Poughkeepsie City Schools, was one of the many school administrators looking to fill positions at this year’s event.

“In the district right now we probably have nine or ten positions that are currently open,” Rappleyea said. “These kinds of recruitment events give us an opportunity to see 30 or so candidates in a day, and let them know that if they really want to make a difference working in an inner-city environment, we have the supports and training required to make them a success.”

To students who may seek employment at future Teacher Recruitment Days, Rappleyea offered a few words of wisdom: be prepared, and practice, practice, practice.

“One of the most important parts of a professional interview is not necessarily coming up with the right answer, but coming up with good questions to ask. You come to that point by interviewing quite a bit, being able to anticipate what subjects of conversation will come up, and that’s a skill you can develop at recruitment events like the one at New Paltz.”

The Teacher Recruitment Day program has grown significantly in recent years, from 15 participating districts in 2014 to 44 in 2017, representing districts across New York State and also a handful of out-of-state schools.

This year’s participants set an event record by holding a total of 733 interviews (nearly six per job-seeker). Students came from education programs here at New Paltz and also from Marist and Mount Saint Mary College.

Visit the Career Resource Center and the School of Education online to learn more about opportunities at SUNY New Paltz.