The portal features a submission form through which candidates can highlight preferred grade levels, subjects and prior experience. It's open to licensed teachers in Tennessee, recent graduates and out-of-state job seekers expecting to be licensed. Officials say the tool has so far connected prospective educators from over 40 states and seven countries with schools looking for applicants.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve heard from our districts about the challenges of traditional recruitment, so we are happy to provide this resource as just one way to help increase the pipeline of talented educators to support students across Tennessee,” Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn said in a news release.
Submissions have come from candidates ranging from recent college graduates seeking their first teaching role to administrators with years of education experience, who each agree to share their applicant information widely among districts. The tool, similar to sites used elsewhere to attract qualified teachers, has been utilized by districts searching to fill vacant positions.
“The TN Teacher Jobs Connection has been an easily accessible resource to find qualified teacher candidates to join the incredible teacher pool we have in Kingsport City Schools,” Kingsport City Schools human resources officer Jennifer Guthrie said in a statement.
