CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Even as many schools face tightening budgets, their recruiters will be out in force Thursday (April 17) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for the annual Teacher Placement Day.
Almost 300 recruiters from 150 school districts, representing Illinois and 23 other states, will participate. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in various rooms at the Illini Union, 1401 W. Green St., Urbana, with activity concentrated in Illini Rooms A, B and C.
Soon-to-be Illinois graduates, as well as veteran teachers from the community, have been invited to attend. Susan Fowler, dean of Illinois’ College of Education, will be available at the Illini Union for media interviews between 10 and 11 a.m.
Also among the expected recruiters will be those recruiting for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and several other European countries.
This year’s Teacher Placement Day reflects both the continuing shortage of teachers and the realities of school budget constraints, says Mildred Trent, director of the university’s Educational Career Services Office, the sponsor of the event.
“The need is the same, the enrollments suggest that they need to hire the additional teachers,” but the money may not be there to do it, she said. In fact, about 15 districts planning to send recruiters have cancelled. Nearly 200 were represented last year.
More than half of the recruiters will be from within the state, including many from the Chicago area. Among the other states, the strongest showing will be from school districts in California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas.
For additional information, contact Trent, or Davida Bluhm, at the Educational Career Services Office, 333-0740.
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