Fair helps future teachers

 
The College of Education hosted its annual teacher career fair in hopes to recruit undergraduate students, future teachers Tuesday in the Felton G. Clark Activity Center.​
Nearly 50 school districts were present from as far as Nevada, Colorado, North Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and a host of districts within the state of Louisiana.​
“We sponsor a job fair for student teachers that will be graduating soon,” Sheila Lewis, teacher job fair coordinator said.​
Lewis also said that counselors, principals and administrative assistance were in attendance to help recruit future students also to their schools.​
“We have teachers from different locations that are willing to change locations,” Lewis said.​
According to Lewis there were a total of nine different out of state school districts in attendance at the teacher’s job fair.​
“Our dean has a passion for teaching and learning and works hard to ensure that our teacher candidates are highly qualified and certified,” said Lewis.​
According to the VerJanis Peoples, dean of the College of Education, the program will be having 20 students to graduate this year. The teacher job fair is specifically held to recruit students, Peoples said. ​
“100 percent of our students are employed,” said Peoples.  “They come because we produce highly qualified teachers.”​
According to Peoples in order for students to graduate from the education program, they must obtain a 2.5 grade point average and 180 field hours of experience.​
“We provide this opportunity every semester,” Peoples said.  “The worth of a college is the graduation of students.”​
One of the featured school districts that were in attendance at the teacher’s job fair was the Pointe Coupee Parish School District.​
In elaborating on the benefits of the program, Lisa Huffaker Supervisor of personnel and accountability said “I think it’s an awesome opportunity for the students to get a feel in interviewing strategies.”​
Another featured Louisiana school district was Ouachita Parish School District. The representatives for Ouachita Parish School District were Harrington Watson III and Charles Natt.​
“I come every year we’re both graduates from Southern so we don’t mine coming back home to help out, it’s a joy and privilege.” Harrington Watson III, assistant principal for Richwood High School said.​
“We also noticed the great job the education department of Southern University does as a whole, at one point in time Southern University produced of the top certified educators in the state of Louisiana,” Charles Natt, teacher at Richwood High School said.​
One of the featured out of state schools that attended this program was The Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nv.​
Regina Adams Executive Director of Human Resource Division in Las Vegas, Nv. said, “The program is valuable to the students because it gives them the opportunity to home their interview skills, so that should prepare them to be even more competitive to get the teaching ​​positions in any of the districts here.”​
Angela Davis a senior elementary education major from Port Sulphur, La. said, “The career fair is very helpful actually I had no idea that I would go into interview with North Carolina but after coming to the interview I’m very interested.”​
“I feel like it opens up a window of opportunities, I never thought about branching out into the state until today,” said Kayla Davis a senior elementary education major from Baton Rouge.​
Debony Williams a senior elementary education major from Port Allen, LA. said, “It really gave me a good insight, I was able to network and put my name out there to different school parishes and districts so that I can get a job.”