School systems from across the Southeast gathered in the Rose Theatre Wednesday to recruit University of Memphis students looking for employment in education. Career and employment services and the college of education held their 13th annual education fair and U of M students from all disciplines turned out in mass.
"We have 37 school systems attending," said Sarabeth Beekman, internship coordinator with career and employment services. "We usually expect about 300 students to attend."
Thirty minutes into the fair, over a hundred well-dressed, resume toting students milled from table to table, picking up information and souvenirs from the various school systems in attendance.
Charlie Lawlor, graduate theatre student, came to the fair even though he is not studying education.
"This is a very good service for students," Lawlor said. "There are schools here looking to fill a variety of positions."
Lawlor said he met representatives from a school system in Louisiana looking to fill an arts faculty position.
"I'm really impressed with the number of school systems represented here," he said.
The arts position Lawlor referred to was with the St. Landry's Parish School Board in Opelousas, La.
Katherine Soileau is personnel director for the system and she was so impressed with the fair last year that she returned.
"We need teachers," Soileau said. "I'm hoping to establish a relationship between our system and The University of Memphis."
This year Soileau brought a secret weapon: Dante Boyd and his story.Boyd, who is originally from Memphis, studied music at Middle Tennessee State University. He attended last year's U of M education fair on his father's recommendation.
"She (Soileau) introduced herself to me last year and said, 'I can hire you right now. We need a band director,'" Boyd said. "In two weeks I was down there teaching."
He said that they took care of him after he made the move to Opelousas, La. and they are even paying for his school now.
"They helped me find a place to live and they're paying for me to finish my alternative teacher certification," said Boyd, a music and art teacher.
Soileau said that she brought Boyd back with her to show U of M students that relocating to Louisiana is not out of the question.Across the front lobby of the Rose Theatre, Cynthia Torian stood at the back of the longest line at the fair. Students waited patiently to talk to recruiters from the Shelby County Schools system.
"I'm planning to stay in the Memphis area," said Torian, an elementary education graduate student. "I'm looking at Shelby County schools because I live in that area."
Torian said she is also considering other opportunities.
Mid-South area school systems at the fair included Memphis City Schools, Desoto County School District and Tunica County Schools. Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky and other neighboring states all had representatives at the event.
"We recruit from all border states and Mississippi," said Willie Young, personnel director for Greenwood Public Schools in Greenwood, Ms. "It seems like a lot of students are looking for larger schools, but if we can recruit two or three quality people it will all be worthwhile."
Young said that he has been on the phone calling all surrounding areas in search of a high school French teacher.
"That's a hard spot to fill," he said.
