OKCPS Looks To Hire Teachers and Skilled Workers

Oklahoma City Public Schools will host a job fair for available positions Thursday, Oct. 6 at John Marshall Mid-High School.

There are more than 200 vacancies at OKCPS right now from teachers to maintenance workers, and despite recent budget cuts, there is a chunk of money for salaries just waiting to be spent.

A teacher shortage around the state is reflected less extremely in the state's largest school district. Of 2,800 instructors, OKCPS needs to hire 28, just one-percent, but many require specific qualifications.

“Nearly a third of those are for special ed teachers. Those are very difficult positions to fill,” said Mark Myers.

State program Troops to Teachers plans to bring more than 50 former service members to the upcoming fair. Coordinators hope their prospects will fill at least 15 of the open instructor positions, saying they are the perfect fit.

“Military members spend so much of their time in a training environment,” said Director Lucus DeKinder. “They’re teaching, they’re instructing, they’re doing so much that this all really comes natural to them.”

Former military may also fit the bill for open maintenance jobs, as do the skilled workers who have already had a relationship with the district. After some changes at the operations division, OKCPS reduced the number of contractors to increase the number of internal employees.

“There’s around 100 people who were let go at that time, so they’ve been able to reorganize in an attempt to save money,” said Myers.

Regardless who they choose for the vacancies, the school district needs to fill them as soon as possible.

“When you talk about not having enough bus drivers, that affects the timing of getting kids to and from school, so there is a dire need,” said Myers.

Thursday’s job fair will be open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. You can pre-register on the school district's website and look at all the open positions by clicking here.