3:54 p.m., April 18, 2008--UD's 30th annual teacher job fairs once again brought hundreds of students, alumni and other job-seekers together with recruiters from school districts throughout Delaware and from across the nation. UD's Bank of America Career Center and the University Council on Teacher Education sponsor the two-day event each year.

Teach in Delaware Day allows recruiters from Delaware schools to meet and interview UD students before representatives from other states arrive. Held April 15, Teach in Delaware Day drew 81 recruiters representing 28 Delaware public school districts and charter schools and 528 students and alumni, according to Cindy Holland, assistant director of UD's Bank of America Career Services Center.

Project Search, held April 16, brought 642 job-seekers and 307 recruiters representing 132 school districts in nine states, the District of Columbia, Korea and the Peace Corps to the Bob Carpenter Center, Holland said.

“This is the first step in the job search process for the students. It's their opportunity to make their first contact with the recruiters from the various school systems," Holland said. "The recruiters...really enjoy coming, in particular to the University of Delaware, [because of] the organization of the event as well as the caliber of our students.”

Dana Mansky, a UD senior majoring in elementary and special education, said that she hopes to teach in Washington D.C., Virginia or Maryland. Samantha Greenstein, a senior studying elementary and special education and middle school math, said she wants to teach in New Jersey.

The fair also attracted many people looking for work who were non-UD students and alums. Vernon Allen, a 2004 Delaware State University graduate who is currently a science teacher and a track coach, said he wants to relocate further south. By 10:30 a.m., Allen said he had handed out 40 resumes.

The job fairs also proved to be popular with recruiters.

“It's a great opportunity for us to meet a variety of people in one place and just discuss education and educational philosophy and where they're coming from and what they're looking to teach, what interests them, and how that can help us,” said Michael Marinelli, the headmaster of Saint Edmonds Academy in Wilmington, Del.

Daniel Peppel, a pre-employment investigator with Loudoun County Schools in Virginia, said that Loudoun has been coming to UD's teacher job fairs for years because, “The University of Delaware always has great candidates who are very well-prepared.”

Article by Adam Thomas
Photos by Kathy Atkinson