March 24, 2017--We had two goals for recruiting this year, one, upgrade the quality of teachers we hired and increase the length of time teachers stay at ISD. To improve the quality, we needed to start recruiting earlier, so with Board approval, we offered teachers a $1,000 bonus if they notified us of their intent to leave by mid-October. Fifteen teachers took advantage of the bonus, which allowed us to start recruiting two months earlier than in the past. This gave us access to the pool of candidates who were not going to resign their current positions without a definite contract at a new school. We hired 10 teachers by early December, the normal deadline for teachers to resign with their current schools.
To address the second goal, we focused on hiring couples, specifically couples with school age children. Research shows that couples with school age children stay the longest at a school, followed by couples with no children, then single males, and single females stay the shortest amount of time. Twelve of our new hires have school age children and only four are single.
Our preferred criteria for new teachers is they have a Masters’ Degree, at least five years experience, and have worked or lived overseas. The table below shows the percentage of new hires that have all three of these criteria, two of the criteria, and only one for the past three recruiting seasons.
Percent of New Hires Meeting Preferred Criteria
While having all three criteria does not guarantee that we will have a highly effective teacher who will be a great fit for our community, it does increase the chances. 2017-2018 New Hires
Lorne Bird - Secondary School Principal Citizenship: Canadian Languages: English, French, Romanian University: BA from University of Victoria, Economics BEd from University of Victoria, Education MA from University of Bath, Educational Leadership Ed.D from University of Bath, Educational Leadership (pending) Years of Experience: 14 years in administration, 21 years overall in education Worked in: Korea, Romania, and Venezuela
Cedric Briand - Elementary French Citizenship: France Languages: English, French University: MA from Institute Polytechnique Lasalle Beauvais Years of Experience: 7 years Worked in: France and United States
Randy Brown - High School Physics
Citizenship: United States Languages: English and French University: BS from University of Vermont, Civil Engineering M.Ed. from Harvard University, Math/Science Education Years of Experience: 15 years Worked in: Mali and United States
Evelyn Chang - Early Childhood Integrated Arts
Citizenship: United States Languages: English and Mandarin University: BS from New York University, Marketing, Entertainment Media and Technology/Communications MS from City College of New York, Childhood Education Years of Experience: 11 years Worked in: South Africa, Thailand, and United States
Caitlin Dwyer - Elementary School Teacher
Citizenship: United States Languages: English University: B.ed. from Salve Regina University, Elementary/Mild to Moderate Special Education Years of Experience: 5 years Worked in: United States
Cindy Farley - High School Support Teacher
Citizenship: United States Languages: English University: BA from Cleveland State University, English MS from Troy University, Educational Leadership Years of Experience: 29 years Worked in: China, Indonesia, South Korea, and United States
Randy Farley - Middle School Social Studies Citizenship: United States Languages: English University: BS. from Cleveland State University, Education MA from Cleveland State University, Curriculum and Instruction BA from University of North Carolina, History Years of Experience: 24 years Worked in: China, Indonesia, South Korea, and United States
Shandra Hall - Elementary Counselor
Citizenship: United States Languages: English University: BA from Winthrop University, Psychology M.ed. from Winthrop University, Counseling & Development Years of Experience: 10 years Worked in: United States
Nevdon Jamgochian - IB Art/High School English
Citizenship: United States Languages: English and Indonesian University: BA from University of Washington, History/Geography MIT from Seattle University, Teaching MFA from Savannah College of Art and Design, Painting Years of Experience: 15 years Worked in: Germany, India, Thailand, and United States
Ann Salter Jarrett - Middle School English
Citizenship: Canada Languages:English, French, and Spanish University: Bachelor’s of Social Sciences from University of Ottawa, History & Political Science Graduate Diploma in Teaching from University of Otago, Secondary Education M.Ed. from Lakehead University, Social Justice Education Years of Experience: 4 years Worked in: Afghanistan, Canada, Cyprus, Egypt, and New Zealand
Katie Lennon - Secondary School Physical Education
Citizenship: United Kingdom Languages: English University: BEd from De Montfort University, Physical Education and Art Years of Experience: 19 years Worked in: Italy, Malawi, Russia, United Kingdom
Paul Lennon - IB Diploma Coordinator
Citizenship: United Kingdom Languages: English University: BEd from De Montfort University, Physical Education and English Years of Experience: 21 years Worked in: Italy, Malawi, Russia, United Kingdom
Jennifer Loria - Secondary School Drama Citizenship: United States Languages: English and Spanish University: BA from Westmont College, Communication Studies MS from State University of New York, Buffalo, Education Years of Experience: 21 years Worked in: China, Colombia, Indonesia, Qatar, and United States
Michael Loria - Middle School Science
Citizenship: Mexico and United States Languages: English and Spanish University: BA from University of Houston, Journalism M.Ed. from State University of New York, Buffalo Years of Experience: 19 years Worked in: China, Colombia, Indonesia, Qatar, and United States
Johannes Nelson - Elementary School Teacher Citizenship: United States Languages: English, German, Italian, and Spanish University: BA from Colorado College, English Years of Experience: 5 years Worked in: Lebanon, Switzerland, United States, and Venezuela
Rik Nijenhuis - Elementary School Teacher Citizenship: Netherlands Languages: Dutch, English, and Spanish University: Master of Law, University of Groningen, Law Years of Experience: 12 Worked in: Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and United States
Samantha Nijenhuis - Elementary School Teacher Citizenship: United States Languages: Dutch, English, and Spanish University: BA from Grand Valley State University, International Relations and Social Studies M.Ed. from Endicott College, International Education (ESL) Years of Experience: 9 years Worked in: Korea, Switzerland, and United States
Erin O’Rielly - Elementary School Teacher
Citizenship: United States Languages: English and French University: BA from University of Connecticut, French and International Relations MA from New York University, Paris, French Language/Teaching French as a Foreign Language Years of Experience: 11 years Worked in: France and United States
Maureen Okoth-Ogola - Elementary School Teacher
Citizenship: Uganda Languages: English University: BA from Pennsylvania State University, Journalism and Minor of International Studies M.Ed. from Shippensburg University, Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education Years of Experience: 2 years Worked in: United States
Anna Rabin - Middle School Social Studies Citizenship: United States Languages: English, French, and Spanish University: BA from University of Wisconsin, History and Women’s Studies M.Ed from George Mason University, International Education Years of Experience: 13 years Worked in: France and United States
Elise Radcliff - Elementary School Teacher
Citizenship: United States Languages: English University: BA from Meredith College, Psychology Years of Experience: 11 years Worked in: Tunisia and United States
Aviam Soudack - Elementary School Teacher Citizenship: Canadian Languages: English University: BS from University of British Columbia, Integrated Biology B.Ed. from University of British Columbia, Technology and Critical Thinking M.Ed from Framingham State University, International Education Years of Experience: 10 years Worked in: Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Guatemala, South Korea
Clay Tan - Secondary School Music Teacher
Citizenship: Canadian Languages: English University: BA from University of Guelph, Music B.Ed from University of Toronto, Education M.Ed from The College of New Jersey, Education Years of Experience: 22 years Worked in: Canada, Singapore, Venezuela
Barbara Workman-Tan - Elementary School Teacher
Citizenship: Canadian Languages: English University: BA and B.Ed from Queen’s University, Education M.Ed from The College of New Jersey, Education Years of Experience: 25 years Worked in: Canada, Columbia, Singapore, Venezuela