In preparation for the new school year, the Stockton Unified School District (SUSD) is racing against time to fill its vacant positions. To outpace its competitors, the SUSD is drawing candidates with enticing signing bonuses ranging from $7,000 to $10,000.
A job fair was held at Flora Arca Mata Elementary School on Wednesday, where potential candidates were interviewed on the spot. Sherry Jackson, the SUSD Director of Recruiting, noted that their current vacancy rate sits at about 5%, a number that she says is typical for the area.
The COVID-19 pandemic undeniably transformed education, leading to learning loss, isolation, and an exodus of teachers. According to Jackson, these factors have not only affected students but also teachers, leading to the existing staffing shortage nationwide.
While the hefty bonuses have already started attracting potential hires, the largest vacancies lie within classroom teaching positions, particularly those involved with special education such as Mod/Severe and Autism. Savannah Navarrete, a teacher at SUSD, has chosen to transition from being an associate preschool teacher to teaching special education for grades three through five within the district.
When questioned about the source of the funds for the substantial signing bonuses, Jackson clarified that it's the ESSER funds or the COVID-related funds that they have earmarked for recruitment. In the past, Stockton Unified has faced criticism for its handling of funds, including a fraud investigation launched by the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office in April and concerns over using Title 1 money to send teachers to a Las Vegas conference last month.
Not only teachers, but school counselors, psychologists, speech and language pathologists, and school nurses are also eligible for the signing bonuses. Navarrete believes that many teachers will likely reinvest these bonuses back into their classrooms.