Lawrence, Zionsville and Noblesville schools included in diversity recruitment fair

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School districts across central Indiana will participate in a Diversity Recruitment Fair conducted by Washington Township Schools from 5 to 7 p.m. April 15 at 8550 Woodfield Crossing Blvd., Indianapolis.

The fair has been conducted for more than 10 years. School districts will have tables representing their districts. 

CIG COM 0319 Diversity fair
Oestreich

“Diverse teacher candidates are welcome to attend and be interviewed on the spot for any current or future openings the school districts have,” Washington Township Schools Asst. Supt. Thomas Oestreich said. “(The districts) are looking for teachers from different multicultural backgrounds, whether that’s black, Hispanic, Asian, or multiracial. We have had white teachers come in the past, and that’s OK, too.”

Oestreich said many districts look to diversify staff to better reflect the student population.

“It’s very important to us because, first of all, recent research that came out has shown that students of minority backgrounds, if they have a teacher that looks like them, it has yielded positive effects for some groups of students,” Oestreich said.

Oestreich cited two studies, one by Vanderbilt and the University of North Carolina and one by Johns Hopkins University and the American University.

“The study indicated when students had teachers that looked like them, their math and reading scores increased,” Oestreich said. “Additionally, another study done recently led by John Hopkins University and the American University said black students who had one black teacher by third grade were 13 percent more likely to enroll in college, and those who had two were 32 percent more likely to enroll in college.”

Participating schools:

MSD of Washington Township, MSD of Lawrence Township, MSD of Pike Township, Bartholomew County, Franklin Township Schools, School Town of Speedway, MSD of Decatur Township, MSD of Warren Township, Noblesville Schools, Zionsville Community Schools, Carmel Clay Schools and Beech Grove City Schools.

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