‘Continuous growth’ in Halton prompts school board to find new ways to recruit teachers

A spokesperson for Halton's public school board says a growing student population and increased teacher retirements has prompted a recruitment push using an unconventional strategy.

Days before winter break, the Halton District School Board (HDSB) issued a media release advertising for various" jobs in cities across the region.

A number of employee positions are available to fill, some immediately," the Dec. 21 release reads.

The appeal to educators comes as Ontario school boards face unprecedented staffing challenges, including increased absenteeism in the wake of the pandemic, and shrinking supply pools as teacher unemployment plummets. According to the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT), unemployment among early-career educators hit a 15-year low in 2021.

This is the first time in recent memory this technique has been used, though Hamilton-area boards say they often use social media and other similar channels to get the word out about jobs.

We are continuously exploring new ways of effectively communicating and engaging with prospective employees," HDSB spokesperson Heather Francey said in a Dec. 23 email.

Francey said the region's continuous growth," combined with increased retirements and a smaller applicant pool, means there's a demand for educators in the region.

New schools are being built nearly every year and staff are needed to support this increasing growth," she said.

According to its website, the HDSB is currently hiring for around 30 positions, many of them at multiple schools across the region.

We have unfilled vacancies in most employee groups, and the percentage of unfilled jobs is higher than pre-pandemic levels," she said. We need to ensure that our positions are filled to ensure that our students are supported."

Meanwhile, the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board recently did two rounds of hiring in November and December, and is continuously recruiting" for its casual pools. The board also hired nearly a thousand staff ahead of the current school year amid the growing provincial teacher shortage.

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) also continues to hire supply teachers, casual educational assistants, and early childhood educators, among others.

In a Nov. 1 report, board staff wrote the pandemic has heightened the importance of robust recruitment efforts."

The board reported changes to recruitment in 2021-22, including on-the-spot and virtual interviews to make the process more efficient and accessible, and recruiting uncertified candidates for casual positions.

Despite best efforts, at times it was difficult to fill all positions and classroom teaching assignments," the report reads.

The HWCDSB said it anticipates these challenges to continue through the 2022-23 school year.

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com