COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 60

March 16, 2007

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	TeachVirginia Educator Recruitment Project

In ongoing efforts to address the critical shortage of qualified educators for Virginia schools, I am pleased to announce the continuation of TeachVirginia. This year the educator recruitment project is supported by funds received under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant and is administered by the Divisions of Special Education and Student Services and Teacher Education and Licensure at the Virginia Department of Education.

The project includes comprehensive resources to recruit school personnel, specifically in the critical shortage teaching endorsement areas, to Virginia preK-12 schools and to encourage individuals to pursue a career in education. The recruitment initiative includes a membership to Teachers-Teachers.com for all school divisions and state-operated programs within Virginia. The membership, effective from February 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008, allows school divisions to post an unlimited number of positions in all endorsement areas; conduct searches for candidates in all areas; and hire teachers, administrators, and related service providers. Representatives from Teachers-Teachers.com will provide thorough technical assistance for school divisions.

Another available resource is the TeachVirginia Response Center. The response center provides information services through a website, telephone support, e-mail and postal mail. The website is accessed at www.teachvirginia.org. The TeachVirginia Web site includes information for individuals who may be exploring a career in education, those who are making the decision to become educators and are inquiring about school personnel licensure in Virginia, and those who are licensed educators seeking employment in Virginia schools. The TeachVirginia toll free number, (888) 832-2481 or (888) Teach-V-1, will receive calls from anyone who may have specific questions regarding teacher preparation programs, routes to licensure, and available positions in Virginia school divisions.

The TeachVirginia Candidate Recruitment Campaign is designed to increase the number of qualified candidates interested in Virginia school positions. The campaign includes customized TeachVirginia marketing materials to be distributed to contacts at colleges and universities; representation of TeachVirginia at national, state and regional recruitment fairs; advertisements online and in printed materials; and promotion of Virginia to a database of over 265,000 active candidates nationwide. Additionally, the campaign will focus on encouraging individuals, including students at two-year or four-year institutions and high school students, to consider pursuing an educational career in Virginia.

If your school division does not have a current membership, you may register directly on the website message, www.teachers-teachers.com/virginia, or send an e-mail to Virginia@teachers-teachers.com identifying the persons in your school division who are in charge of recruiting teachers, administrators, and related services personnel. Include their names, titles, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses. A representative from Teachers-Teachers.com will contact your staff within the next few weeks to provide training and immediate access as you seek qualified candidates for the 2007-2008 school year. Ongoing technical assistance will be provided for each school division by Teachers-Teachers.com.

If you need additional information concerning this service, contact Mr. B. J. Robinson, Virginia Recruitment Coordinator, at e-mail: wrobinson@teachers-teachers.com or (877) 812-4071. Questions concerning the availability of membership through the Virginia Department of Education should be directed to Dr. Patricia Burgess, teacher education specialist, Division of Teacher Education and Licensure at e-mail: pat.burgess@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 225-2096.

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