Effective Hiring Practices – District Examples
Improving hiring practices can improve the educator workforce at a relatively low cost (Kimbrell, 2019: AASA Journal of Scholarship & Practice, v15 n4). However, choosing the candidate with the right skills can be difficult. For example, when it comes to hiring managers, Gallup’s research suggests companies across all industries miss the mark on 82% of their decisions.
In education, common hiring errors across positions include:
· Lack of clarity on the needs or the key competencies valued by your school system
· Hiring based on time constraints
· Lack of structured processes
· Over-reliance on interviews with little use of other data to make final decisions
· Poor customer service throughout the hiring process
Further exacerbating hiring challenges are workforce shortages. Nationally, the ratio of hires to job openings in the education sector fell to 0.57 hires for every open position to start the 2021-22 school year, an all-time low (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Despite these challenges, the following district examples have taken research-based approaches to enhance their hiring practices.
Reynoldsburg City Schools (Ohio) – focus on alignment and capacity building
Developed a Portrait of an Educator (PoE) and utilized the process to identify competencies they look for in a highly qualified candidate. View their PoE and watch their launch video on the process
Integrated their PoE competencies into recruitment materials and screening tools (i.e., interview questions).
Provided training to hiring managers that focused on the need to reimagine the hiring system, research-based approaches, and practical next steps.
Leveraged an ODE Diversifying the Workforce grant to support aspects of the bullets listed above, as well as multiple strategies that impact recruitment and retainment of non-white staff.
Des Moines Public Schools (Iowa) – focus on a multi-data point hiring system and alignment
Embarked on a multi-year journey to develop a system of hiring based on best practices, research, and the needs of their students. Watch their video and read their story
Aligned their job descriptions, interview questions, and look-fors.
Created a more equitable hiring process based on multiple data points.
The urgency for effective recruitment and hiring practices is evident as the “war for talent” intensifies in education. For quick start guides, tips, inspiration examples, and more, visit the Hiring Practices section and the Recruitment section of the Human Capital Resource Center.