Cumberland County Schools hiring to fill 200 positions before start of school year
Along with the rest of the country, the Cumberland County school district is suffering from a teacher shortage.
Cumberland County Schools are short nearly 150 teachers, said Ruben Reyes, associate superintendent for human resources.
“We are not immune to the challenges that are being experienced throughout the nation,” he said. “Last year, our vacancy rate was higher than in previous years. The pandemic has played a major impact, in terms of human capital within the district.”
Teacher shortage: New report shows increase in teacher resignations in Cumberland County Schools
Registration for virtual interviews will be open until July 14, according to a news release sent out by the school district.
Cumberland County schools are always hiring, Reyes said, and there are a little more than 200 different positions open in the school district, such as licensed teachers, school counselors, and school social workers.
The school district is short more than 50 bus drivers, according to the school district's Executive Director of Transportation Kristi Harden.
Some employees, such as cafeteria workers and teacher assistants, drive buses as part of their duties.
The school district is looking to hire “premier professionals,” according to a news release sent out to the school district.
“When we are searching for candidates to come join our team, we are looking for individuals who are highly qualified, but also caring and competent,” Reyes said. “We’ve coined the term ‘premier professionals’ to sum up the qualities that we are looking for in staff members within the district.”
In order to become a teacher, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate are required.
School employees income: Cumberland County School employees earn an average annual income of $41,000
Reyes advises candidates to prep before an interview.
“Learn a little bit about the school that you’re going to work for,” he said. “Be prepared to not only answer questions but to ask questions.”
As an incentive, all qualified new hires could receive up to a $2,000 bonus, Reyes said. Current employees are not eligible for the bonus. Also, teachers with master’s degrees will not be paid more than teachers with bachelor’s degrees, a decision made by the state.
The school district’s minimum pay for any non-licensed position is now $15 an hour, double North Carolina’s minimum wage. Licensed employees will not be paid hourly, their pay is salary based.
Pay increase: Bus drivers, teacher assistants in Cumberland County Schools likely to get raises in July
During the summer break, nearly 150 new employees have already been hired, Reyes said. The goal for Cumberland County Schools is to fill as many vacancies as possible, he said.
“We are looking at quality, understanding that we have a high quantity of positions to fill,” Reyes said.
If you are looking to make a difference, apply to work for Cumberland County Schools, he said.
To register for an online interview, visit Cumberland County Schools online.
Health and education writer Ariana-Jasmine Castrellon can be reached at acastrellon@gannett.com or 910-486-3561.
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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland County Schools hiring 200 vacant positions, many teachers
