"It`s an annual challenge:" With weeks until school starts, "help wanted" sign still up for MPS



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Who will be at the head of the class? With just three weeks until school starts for Milwaukee Public Schools, the "help wanted" sign is still up, as the district looks for teachers.

"We will have every classroom staffed with a fully-licensed teacher," MPS Chief of Human Capital Dr. Karen Jackson said.

With just a few weeks remaining until the fall semester starts, MPS still has dozens of positions available.

"At this point in time, we're in search of 86 teachers," Dr. Jackson said.

Dr. Jackson says in a district of some 5,000 instructors, it is not unusual to begin the school year without a permanent placement in each classroom.

"It`s an annual challenge. It's an annual cycle," Dr. Jackson said.

It's one which, Dr. Jackson says is different this year due to relatively new state legislation.

"Before, we had contractual language that would predict, in a better fashion, how many teachers we would lose, but this time, with the emergence of Act 10, we did not know how many teachers we would lose," Dr. Jackson said.

Dr. Jackson says there is still time to fill the positions -- a task made easier by the absence of a residency requirement.

"They can live wherever they want, and teach in Milwaukee Public Schools. So, all we're looking for is people who are dedicated, and interested and motivated," Dr. Jackson said.

Regardless of who is at the teacher's desk, Dr. Jackson assures parents their children will have competent teachers when classes commence.

"Parents do not need to be concerned about the quality," Dr. Jackson said.

Dr. Jackson says MPS' efforts to recruit have gone international -- with teachers recruited from areas such as Spain and Puerto Rico.

On its website, MPS indicates it is "actively seeking to attract and retain the most dedicated and talented urban teachers, administrators and classroom support staff." CLICK HERE if you're interested in filling one of the dozens of available positions.

If you do go as far as applying for one of the open positions, you'll want to know what benefits MPS has to offer. CLICK HERE to learn more about those.