Recap of the National Minority Careers in Education Expo – 3/13/10

On Saturday, March 13th, the Vermont Teacher Diversity Initiative was proud to support the diversity recruitment efforts of the Burlington School District in New York City. Heavy, heavy rains were falling that morning, accompanied by gusting winds all throughout the Big Apple. By 8:30am, VTDI and BSD staff had completed a rendez-vous at the Brooklyn Bridge Marriott where the event would take place – VTDI Director Jim Woodard and BSD Equity Education Specialist Mercedes Mack both hopping the C train from Chelsea and the lower east side respectively, while BSD Director for Diversity & Equity Dan Balón had flown from  BTV to JFK early that morning. BSD staffers Bonnie Johnson-Aten (Principal, Edmunds Middle School), Jeanné Collins (Superintendent), and Sara Jane Mahan (Director of Human Resources) had arrived late the evening prior, and had stayed onsite.

We worked quickly to get our table set up – a linen-draped front to an 8×8 booth – tacking up the VTDI banner, listings for potential BSD job openings, spreading out our array of hospitality gifts that included BSD highlighters and hand sanitizers (big thanks to Stephanie Philips, BSD’s Curriculum Coordinator, for donating these items left over from last fall) and an enticing basket of Lake Champlain chocolate squares. Maps, position listings, and guides to Vermont covered our table.

Bonnie Johnson-Aten, Dan Balón, and Sara Jane Mahan in our recruitment booth at the start of the day

Jeanné Collins and Mercedes Mack chat in the interview area just before the event began

After setting up, we had a short orientation from the organizers of the event, and by the official start time of 10:00am we were prepped, caffeinated, and ready to meet some candidates. As part of the recruitment event package, we were also designated a separate breakout space where we could interview appropriate candidates who might be interested in positions in VT. It was decided that Jeanné and Bonnie would conduct interviews while Dan, Mercedes, Sara Jane, and Jim would work the table and talk with potential candidates.

Applicants and recruiters mingle

Despite the very foul weather outside, the event had an excellent turnout. Quickly, we found ourselves talking to potential applicants and talking up the benefits of living and working in the Burlington community. Interview spots with Jeanné and Bonnie filled quickly, and as we shuttled resumés from the recruitment table back to the private interview space it was fantastic to see so many diverse teachers and administrators from around the country here in NYC looking for work.

Mercedes talks with a candidate

The day went by FAST! Jeanné and Bonnie interviewed more than a dozen applicants, and returned to Burlington late Saturday with a stack of resumés and some very viable candidates. Dan Balón characterized the day as an “awesome experience” and expressed his pleasure that we “…got people interested, learned some things, and can really leverage our time in future recruiting events.”

Dan Balón

This event was paid for by the Vermont Teacher Diversity Initiative, and the only cost to the Burlington Schools were the modest travel expenses for their staff members. The VTDI made this opportunity available to all Vermont school districts, and only Burlington seized upon the opportunity, illustrating that there is still much work to be done in Vermont when it comes to a true commitment to diversifying our educators.

If you’d like to learn more about this annual event, or our participation in it, please contact us.