Jackson schools face 200 teacher vacancies


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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Jackson Public School District may turn to retired or substitute teachers to fill in if current vacancies are not filled for this upcoming year.

Jackson Schools Human Resources Director Carol Dorsey tells The Clarion-Ledger (http://on.thecl.com/1naeO77 ) there are currently 218 open positions for certified teachers, guidance counselors and interventionists as of Tuesday. Jackson Public Schools employs about 2,000 teachers.

Dorsey said in the past in Jackson Public Schools, vacancy numbers have been even higher at this time of year.

"If I had five vacancies today, I could have five recommendations (of candidates) on their way to me. It's really a process," she said.

Dorsey said applicants must go through several interviews, be approved by officials, pass a background check and have their educator licenses verified.

There's also a lag in the summers because contracts for principals, who are involved in hiring, end in mid-June and don't start up again until July.

If all spots aren't filled, students start the school year off with a retired certified teacher or a substitute teacher, she said.

Dorsey said last year about five to 10 retired certified teachers had to fill in, and though she didn't know the exact number of substitute teachers, she said it was "higher than normal."

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Information from: The Clarion-Ledger, http://www.clarionledger.com

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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