MOUNT VERNON — High school educator Samantha Hawn was laid off when a charter took over her school.
While searching for full-time employment, Hawn came across Mount Vernon City Schools’ “Jacket Jobs” substitute hiring event on social media. She saw it as a way to get her foot in the door in Mount Vernon.
Job seekers ranged in age and experience at Tuesday’s hiring event at the Energy Fieldhouse. The program included morning and evening sessions where job seekers could apply for multiple positions with one application, complete background checks and apply for licenses in one place.
While Hawn is already a licensed teacher, others who applied for substitute teaching roles simultaneously applied for a one-time Ohio Department of Education substitute teaching license, including 21-year-old Staci Brenneman.
Mount Vernon’s school board temporarily adopted modified education requirements for substitute teachers Monday due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The board authorized the employment of substitute teachers for the current school year who do not hold post-secondary degrees (as is otherwise required by Ohio law), in accordance with Senate Bill 1.
Brenneman, a 2018 Mount Vernon High School graduate, began working as an assistant swim coach this school year.
“I’ve grown to like working with students,” she said, adding she hopes to take on more roles within the district.
The hiring event seemed like a logical place to start.
Mount Vernon is in need of substitute staff across departments, as is the case in other Knox County districts (i.e. Centerburg, Danville, etc.) and many districts across the country. In addition to substitute teachers, people could apply at the hiring event to be substitute secretaries, educational aides, cooks, custodians and bus drivers.
“A lot of people think if you’re going to sub, you’re going to be a teacher,” said Beth Ruth, Mount Vernon administrative assistant to curriculum and personnel. “But there are a lot of other opportunities available.”
Substitute positions offer greater flexibility than full-time roles, Ruth said, emphasizing that such roles may be more accommodating to childcare needs or part-time work for people who are retired.
Hawn, for example, applied to be a substitute teacher, a role she will be able to take on while also attending graduate school.
Mount Vernon superintendent Bill Seder said the “Jacket Jobs” event was a part of a larger push through Dec. 31 to hire staff by eliminating barriers to employment.
The district paid for upfront application costs at the event, including applicable Bureau of Criminal Investigation/Federal Bureau of Investigation background checks, ODE license fees and substitute bus driver coursework. The district also increased its pay rate, which Seder said is now a minimum of $13 per hour for substitutes.
Tuesday’s event was the first of its kind in recent memory, according to Seder, Ruth and director of technology Matthew Dill. They noted the district is not looking for a specific number of substitutes but rather as many as it can get.
While many job seekers who attended Tuesday’s event applied for multiple positions, people who want to become bus drivers in particular will have to undergo additional coursework and testing.
All applicants had to present two forms of identification at the hiring event, a federal I-9 and bank account information, as well as complete a background check.
In addition, bus drivers must complete preservice classes, obtain a CDL-B permit from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and pass driving tests, Mount Vernon director of transportation Todd Conant said.
Process to become a bus driver
Conant said bus driver shortages are not new to the industry — but hirings have become increasingly more challenging.
While the district is not currently planning to have more “Jacket Jobs” hiring events as of now, Seder said he would consider scheduling more if the district sees success with Tuesday’s event.
Within the first 15 minutes of opening the doors to job seekers Tuesday morning, nearly all of the 20-something laptops available were in use as staff floated from table to table answering job seekers’ questions. Over the course of the two sessions, 30 job people applied to positions, many of whom listed several departments of interest, Seder said Wednesday.
The district received 17 substitute teacher applications, 12 substitute aide applications, nine substitute secretary applications, five substitute cook applications, four substitute custodian applications and three substitute bus driver applications — for a total of 50 applications submitted overall.
Herald's Appliance, a local staple in Knox County since 1952, proudly sponsors the Knox Pages education section.
