Denver Public Schools looks to diversify its workforce

When Nordia Pryce’s flight from Arizona landed in Denver on Friday, she skilled one thing she had by no means encountered earlier than.

“It was fairly an expertise. I skilled snow for the primary time,” she stated.

She hopes it’s not the final time.

Pryce, who’s initially from Jamaica, needs to make Denver her new residence after spending the previous few years instructing in Arizona.

She’s hoping to land a instructing job for Denver Public Colleges.

Denver7 caught up with Pryce at a variety hiring job truthful the district hosted Saturday at Handbook Excessive Faculty.

“I am a math instructor, so that is what I am right here in search of my place,” stated Pryce.

Denver Public Colleges is likely one of the most numerous faculty districts in Colorado, however numbers present the district’s workforce will not be as numerous as many group members need.

Denver Public Colleges seems to be to diversify its workforce

Lauren Nelson, the district’s director of expertise acquisition, says the district is trying to diversify its workforce and fill positions from bus drivers to lecturers.

Saturday’s job truthful was one of many some ways the district is working to try this.

“We would like our college students to see themselves mirrored within the adults that assist them,” stated Nelson. “It can be crucial that they see themselves not solely of their lecturers, however they see it in district management and all through the district.”

Intensive analysis exhibits college students of colour carry out higher when extra lecturers and assist employees seem like them.

In line with numbers supplied by DPS, whereas minorities make up 75% of its scholar inhabitants, they solely make up 36% of its staff.

Nelson stated the district has made progress, however acknowledged there may be nonetheless extra work to do.

Recruiting and retaining a various group of lecturers might be difficult below one of the best of circumstances, however Denver has its personal set of distinctive challenges, with the price of dwelling on the prime of that record.

“I feel the price of dwelling in Denver has continued to go up and so , once you’re taking a look at recruiting individuals in we have now to have a look at our salaries and examine that to the price of dwelling,” stated Nelson.

The district is offering signing bonuses of $2,000 for some hard-to-find positions like particular training lecturers.

DPS recruiters have additionally been visiting HBCUs (traditionally black faculties and universities) and HSIs (Hispanic-Serving Establishments).

Nelson says DPS will not be alone with regards to attempting to diversify its workforce.

It’s a purpose that colleges district throughout the area and nation share.

“We’re seeing even our different metro districts are displaying as much as the identical occasions in New Mexico in California,” stated Nelson. “So, we’re additionally persevering with to have a look at going out of state and bringing extra educators into Colorado.”

Candidates at Saturday’s job truthful additionally obtained assist with enhancing their resumes and making ready for interviews.

For extra data on opening positions inside DPS, go to https://careers.dpsk12.org/