'A Genuine Care For Students:' OKCPS Looking To Hire 150 Teachers

Filling open positions and retaining teachers is the focus as Oklahoma City Public Schools heads into the 2024-2025 school year.

Monday morning, Oklahoma City Public Schools hosted a job fair to begin that search. The district is trying to fill 150 open positions before the next school year.

“There are lots of opportunities for individuals to get into a classroom and make a difference in a child's life," OKCPS Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Brad Herzer said.

Amid a teacher shortage across the U.S., Herzer says the hunt for qualified teachers deepens in Oklahoma. "We're just looking for people who have a genuine care for students," he said.

OKCPS's job fair was the first step toward filling positions across all grade levels. "We are looking for good people who want to show up every day and grow our students here in Oklahoma," Monserrat Randolph, principal at Buchanan Elementary School.

She was one of many administrators recruiting teachers at the job fair.

“I know people say it's easy, it's not,” she said. “You have to have a lot of commitment and you have to have a heart for kids."

But passion is only one piece of the puzzle.

"We really work hard to retain our staff and provide them a competitive salary and benefits package," Herzer said.

The goal is to turn recruitment into retention.

"We're looking to create a culture where people want to stay," Herzer said.

All OKCPS's open positions are posted on the district’s website.

"Also new Monday, State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced a new incentive program to bring math and science teachers to rural Oklahoma schools. The incentive package offers a sign-on bonus of $25,000 for out-of-state teachers and $15,000 for in-state teachers.

Walters said in a statement in part, "We are making it easier than ever for teachers to come to our great state and have an enormous impact on our young people."