My Recruiting Blog

Hundreds of Houston teaching jobs (Click here) have been put on the chopping block.

School districts throughout Houston and Fort Bend are planning to cut more than 880 jobs for teachers and other employees. Although any displaced employees have the option of applying for other positions within the districts, there's no guarantee they'll be hired.

"We will work very hard to interview all of them as quickly as possible," Terry Grier, superintendent at Houston Independent School District, told the Houston Chronicle, adding that principals and department leaders won't be forced to hire those employees, but they will be considered before other applicants.

HISD voted April 8 to fire Principal Mable Caleb, five other administrators and teachers who were involved in a scheme to cover up dropouts by tagging them as transfers, and 170 other employees to save $4.8 million. The district is looking to cut about $7 million from its overall budget.

This last group of employers includes teachers, counselors, nurses, curriculum specialists and teacher-training staff. These layoffs come after HISD already cut about 240 other positions in regional offices and federally-funded posts.

The personnel cuts are mainly the result of a reorganization of the district's administration and several departments, including professional development, alternative certification and services for hospitalized, institutionalized and sick students at home.

The Fort Bend Independent School District - which, facing a $20 million deficit, has declared a financial emergency - is planning to cut 470 jobs, including 100 positions for special education teachers.

"The district's goal is to be able to offer the opportunity to as many teachers as possible to return to work in the district," FBISD Spokeswoman Mary Ann Simpson said in a statement.

Labels: Houston teaching jobs