PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The School District of Philadelphia is hosting a series of job fairs to fill vacant positions across its 220 schools.
During Wednesday’s job fair at South Philadelphia High School, the focus was on non-instructional roles. Positions include climate support — staff who look over kids at lunch or in the hallways — as well as bilingual counseling assistants, cafeteria staff, bus drivers, bus attendants, general cleaners and building engineers.
“Throughout the pandemic, there has been a shifting job market,” said Larisa Shambaugh, district chief talent officer. “That has definitely impacted our ability to have all of our roles filled, but we are starting to see a change. You’ll see here today that we have hundreds of people who are coming to apply for jobs.
“We offer lots of opportunities,” she continued, “but we also offer the ability to feel that your work is also contributing to a student’s improvement in their lives.”
Shambaugh noted the district is still hiring instructional positions, like teachers, nurses and guidance counselors.
Last year, in an effort to address the nationwide bus driver shortage, the district even launched a “bus chauffeur” program.
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“You’ll be getting a signing bonus of $500 to come to work for the school district as a trainee,” Shambaugh explained. “We would teach you how to drive a bus and support you as you learn bus driving so you can take your CDL license test to become a certified bus driver in the state of Pennsylvania, and then we will be able to hire you as a permanent bus driver.”
Theresa Black, who had applied for a bus attendance position, commended how well organized the event was and said the information provided by the district was clear.
And clearly, it worked out.
“I got hired!” Black excitedly shared.
The district will hold another job fair on Aug. 10 at Grover Washington Jr. Middle School in North Philadelphia from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Applications can also be filed online at workinphilly.com.