Concern about the V.I. economy coupled with the usual snail's pace processing of Notices Of Personnel Action (NOPA's) has led several new public school teachers recruited from the mainland to quit already.
One, a math teacher, "quit the same day he started," Alscess Lewis-Brown, Education Department director of personnel and labor relations, said Wednesday.
In the second week of school, the department has put out a call for applicants to fill vacancies in secondary science, mathematics and foreign languages.
On St. Thomas there is an immediate need for two foreign language (Spanish or French)teachers, one teacher of elementary English as a Second Language, three secondary science teachers, and three secondary mathematics teachers, according to Lewis-Brown.
On St. Croix, she said, one secondary culinary arts teacher, two teachers of secondary science, two secondary math teachers, and two secondary computer science teachers are needed.
There are also several vacancies in physical education and special education, Lewis-Brown said.
Most of the openings are in junior and senior high school. "Elementary teachers leave from one day to the next," she said, "but we have information on file of people we can call on to take their place."
She said additional vacancies will be created shortly as the department moves to discharge teachers who have not shown up to teach in the first five days of the new academic year.
The classes lacking teachers "have generally been meeting" as scheduled, Lewis-Brown said, with substitute teachers or paraprofessionals in charge.
Candidates for the announced vacancies must have at minimum a bachelor's degree in the pertinent field. Teaching credentials are preferred, according to an Education release, but applicants "need not have completed the teaching licensure process at the time they apply."
Those hired will have to pass the Praxis examination and will have a year in which to complete certification and licensing requirements.
The positions pay $22,751 to $30,345 annually, depending on education and experience.
For details, contact Lewis-Brown at 773-1747, 773-1095 or 774-0100 ext. 3051.
