BENSON – Hundreds of candidates attended the Johnston County Public Schools Job Fair on Saturday, April 13, at West Johnston High School near Benson.
Chief of Human Capital Brian Vetrano said 365 candidates from eight different states pre-registered for the event, including some from as far away as California. The job fair was a public event and open for potential candidates on a walk-in basis.
“We’re excited about this day, so all of our schools can come and showcase not only their schools but our school system as a whole,” said Vetrano. “We feel like we have much to offer graduates and even experienced individuals from other school systems, so we’re very excited to be here to be able to talk with individuals and help them understand why it would be very beneficial for them to come join our amazing team.”
Candidates had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with administrators from each of the 45 Johnston County Public Schools and learn more about the innovative practices that are happening in the district.
“I am so excited to see the applicants. We’re looking for some people who are going to be innovative, bring relevance to our classrooms, and that are going to build relationships with our students,” said West View Elementary Principal Chenetra Mangum.
Tamara Dye, a candidate who traveled from California, said she is eager to see what Johnston County Public Schools has to offer.
“All the schools here look really nice, and I’m looking forward to finding a school to call home,” said Dye.
School leaders anticipate the number of students attending JCPS will continue to grow in the coming years. Vetrano said the district is always seeking candidates to meet the needs of the district’s students.
“At first I was a little nervous about attending the job fair, but the atmosphere here is warm and people immediately want to attach themselves to you and want to get to know you,” said Reginald Scott, a candidate who attended the job fair.
Throughout the event applicants met with principals and human resource administrators to fill vacancies created by retirement, job transfers, and the demand for more teaching staff. Vetrano said the school system hires several hundred teachers every year.
“I’m excited about seeing the passion within teachers’ eyes as they come up to us and talk to us,” said Mangum. “I’m also excited about hearing the innovative things that they’re going to do within a building, letting them talk about what they want to do, and what their vision is as they move into Johnston County.”
According to Vetrano, the district currently has more than 30 vacancies, and he hopes that the job fair will allow them to fill them all.
“We are one of the fastest growing school systems in the state. We continue to grow by about a school each year,” said Vetrano. “This event is very important as we begin to plan for next school, especially as we fill our vacancies.”
Candidates had the opportunity to speak with representatives from several departments within JCPS, including the Preschool Program, Beginning Teacher Program, and ESL Program.
“What I look for in a potential employer is for them to show me respect and to have that family atmosphere,” said Scott. “That way we are all on the same page, and they can support me while I support them.”
Vetrano added that representatives from Barton College, UNC Pembroke, William Peace University were available to speak with candidates about furthering their education.
“In our school system we’re about continuous growth,” said Vetrano. “It’s important for our candidates to know that when you come to Johnston County Public Schools you are going to be supported, and we are going to encourage you to continue to grow in your professional career.”
