Mahoning County Regional Teacher Job Fair is Wednesday

By Jordyn Grzelewski

jgrzelewski@vindy.com

CANFIELD

Nicholas Henry has worked just about every job in a school building.

He started out as a school custodian. Then, after he graduated from Youngstown State University with an early childhood education degree, the opportunity came up for him to work as a substitute gym teacher at Dobbins Elementary in Poland.

Now, Henry is a teacher at Dobbins. The journey to his dream job began with that first substitute assignment, and included numerous other stops along the way.

Henry credits his time as a substitute teacher with allowing him to develop relationships that led to other job opportunities, and would recommend that anyone interested in an education career follow the same trajectory.

“I think it’s imperative that you see how a school functions, from the custodial level all the way to becoming a teacher,” he said.

An event Wednesday at the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center on aims to help people find teaching jobs.

The Mahoning County Regional Teacher Job Fair will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at the Joyce Brooks Center at MCCTC, 7300 N. Palmyra Road.

The event is a partnership between the Mahoning Valley Regional Council of Governments and Rachel Wixey & Associates, a substitute recruiter.

Twelve area schools and school districts will be represented at the fair.

Attendees can learn about substitute opportunities at those schools, as well as some opportunities for full-time teaching positions.

Don Dailey, MVRCOG director, explained that numerous area districts participate in a substitute-teaching consortium. Teachers from participating districts use an online system to request substitutes, who can go online and select the openings they want to work.

For the substitute openings, Dailey said the job fair is targeting people who have bachelor’s degrees and are looking for work; retired teachers; and recent graduates.

Fred Davis, who works as a substitute at Boardman schools, falls into the first category. He spent 18 years on the Boardman school board, and, after retiring from the board and a career as a funeral home director, wanted to see what teachers experience on a daily basis.

“It’s kind of a neat job. Not knowing what teachers do, it’s been eye-opening,” he said.

The gig is ideal for someone in his position, who is retired and wants to fill some of his time, while also maintaining the flexibility to travel when he wants, he said.

“The kids are energizing. It’s refreshing,” he said. “If anybody asks me, I would say, yes, definitely sub.”

Substitute teachers earn $75 per day.

Job fair attendees are asked to bring resumes and, if applicable, student teaching portfolio materials. They also should expect to do interviews.

Substitute candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in any field, and will be subject to a criminal background check and drug screening.

Applicants can register at angie@rachelwixey.com.