NEW JERSEY (PIX 11) — As the East Orange School District braces for dozens of looming layoffs, the Paterson Public School District is facing its own set of problems as it faces the challenge of filling more than 100 vacant teaching positions.
At a job fair held at the Paterson School Board of Education Wednesday, school officials welcomed job candidates from around the region — hoping to provide them with new opportunities while addressing their own critical need for teachers.
District officials are hoping to fill 123 vacant teaching positions less than two months into the school year.
“It’s not new news that we’ve been struggling with our vacancies,” said Susette Chavez, HR Director of the Paterson Public School District. “Our numbers do fluctuate but every day we’re hiring and unfortunately we’re still battling those numbers.”
Candidates filled the job fair exploring teaching positions in Paterson, including applicants from the East Orange School District where impending layoffs threaten 93 staff positions. Assistant Superintendent Cicely Warren says the district is working to recruit East Orange staff.
“Our superintendent is working with the superintendent in East Orange to make sure that those staff members who are impacted by the layoffs are aware of the opportunities available in Paterson,” Warren said.
So far this school year, Paterson’s school district has relied heavily on substitute teachers to fill the gaps left by its vacancies. While district staff say substitutes have helped maintain classroom operations, the district is now focused on finding permanent educators who can provide consistency and stability for students. Chavez said the district is welcoming East Orange educators with open arms.
“It’s important for us because these are people who are deeply affected,” said Chavez. “Especially they’re going to be affected right before the holiday. So we welcome them with open arms and maybe they’ll see that Paterson is not so different from East Orange. We have a diverse student population. A diverse community, and maybe they’ll find Paterson as a second home.”
Paterson officials are hoping this potential partnership can bring some much-needed relief to both districts, turning a shared challenge into an opportunity to ease the burden on Paterson’s schools, while providing a fresh start for displaced educators in East Orange.
Organizers of this job fair are hoping this hiring push could help alleviate some of the strain on the Paterson Public School District which has been operating understaffed since the start of the school year. You can find more information on those job vacancies here.
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