In its first-ever June job fair, Killeen ISD attracted waves of applicants looking to find the right fit in the school district.

“We’re excited to hire quality staff for our students,” said Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources David Manley. Halfway through the four-hour job fair at Harker Heights High School Thursday, Manley said the numbers looked strong. He praised the district’s newly enhanced compensation package for generating extra interest.

In the end, more than 450 people attended the job fair, with 105 teachers or other professionals and 101 support staff receiving letters of intent to hire.

Andrew Jones was excited. He exited the building with a pending job offer to teach at Rancier Middle School, the school he attended as a student. “I’ve been wanting to move into the teaching field,” said Jones, who has subbed in two school districts and is about to complete his teaching certification. “Mainly, it’s the love for the kids,” he said, describing his motivation to teach. “Most important is the relationships. That goes a lot further than any paycheck.”

Prospective employees walked past tables in the cafeteria, split between elementary and secondary schools. Several of the tables listed the specific jobs schools were needing. The gym contained other KISD departments like safety, school nutrition, substitute teaching and transportation.

Interviews took place in classrooms.

Christopher Wydler made his way along the row of high school tables. The college-level English teacher is looking to move into a high school teaching job as his daughter enters high school. He is a seven-year teacher hoping to teach in a dual credit environment and continue working on a doctorate degree.

Melissa Robinson has been subbing three years and has worked as a nurse and a business owner. Her husband is a former soldier who is now teaching at Timber Ridge Elementary School. She is finishing an alternative certification program this summer and is looking to teach fourth or fifth grade or middle school. “What I love about teaching is the kids’ personalities,” she said. “I love seeing the light bulb come on and all the social-emotional learning that goes on.”

Several school leaders said they were down to just a few specific teaching jobs. Chaparral High School Principal Gina Brown entered the job fair needing just three teachers for the school’s opening this fall. She was confident that number was getting smaller during the job fair. “The staff has showed up,” said Brown, describing how her teachers and other staff members have already come to school to help unload pallets of supplies. “We’re unloading as fast as it arrives,” she said. “We’re excited.”

Information about available jobs in KISD is available at the following:
https://www.applitrack.com/killeenisd/onlineapp/