Wanted: 1,300 teachers within three months

Friday, June 15, 2007 | 7:16 a.m.

With less than three months until the start of the new academic year, the Clark County School District has more than 1,300 teacher vacancies to fill.

That number is expected to grow to about 3,000 as the summer progresses and more teachers retire, resign and relocate.

The district has interviewed 5,589 applicants, made 1,155 offers and received 569 acceptances. School administrators, who serve as volunteer recruiters, have visited dozens of cities in nearly every state. There have been return trips to areas where districts have announced school closings and layoffs, such as Detroit.

"If we don't fill all the positions it won't be for lack of trying," said Emily Aguero, director of teacher recruiting for the district.

At the start of the 2006-07 academic year, the district was short about 400 teachers and assigned long-term substitutes to the positions. Aguero said it's likely the district will face a similar situation in August , although she's optimistic fewer long-term substitutes will be needed.

Early applications were down about 50 percent this spring compared with last year.

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