Local school district getting creative to find new teachers
The Soledad Unified School District is offering incentives to attract top notch teachers to the area. Finding quality educators is extremely competitive right now, so the district hopes to get a leg up on the competition.
“We are looking to bring our students into the 21st century,” said Lisa Kleinhofer, assistant superintendent for the Soledad Unified School District.
That means attracting the best teachers to the school district. In order to do that, the board approved $5,000-$10,000 signing bonuses.
“The range differs if you are a science or math teacher or if you are a school psychologist or occupational therapist,” Kleinhofer said. “We are really looking to recruit and attract the highest quality candidates that we can find here in Monterey County.”
The district is looking to fill 15 to 20 more positions in the next few months. They say the biggest need is for math, science and special education teachers.
Rose Ferrero first grade teacher Rebecca Siguenza took advantage of this incentive deal which also includes paid classes for teachers and free rides. She doesn’t use the Vanpool program, but fifth grade teacher Heather Varela does. What she saves on drive time she spends focused on her students.
“I can do work in the Vanpool so I can work on stuff,” Varela said. “I can grade papers, I can work on my computer.”
From the short-term financial support to the support needed in the future.
“They are really working to make us feel comfortable and to show us they are here to support us,” Siguenza explained. “We have a coach that works with us every two weeks, we have meetings. She comes and works in our classrooms, she gives us advice, so they’re making sure that we’re not only happy but that we are comfortable and we have support.”
“In addition to the signing bonus we also offer an excellent professional development package,” Kleinhofer explained, “So we not only encourage our teachers to receive professional development but we also send our teachers outside our community to learn and grow.”
We checked in with other school districts in the area. Alisal Union and Monterey Peninsula do not offer any hiring incentives. We have not heard back from the Pajaro Valley Unified School District just yet.
