Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: News

Laura Fitzgerald, a teacher from Unity East Elementary School, talks to one of the many people who attended the Fall Education Job Fair on Wednesday.(Samantha Bilharz/the Daily Eastern News)

From Illinois to Texas to Kansas, schools flocked to Eastern's campus Wednesday for the annual Fall Education Job Fair.

Students came with resumes in hand to interview for positions offered at the various schools in attendance.

Special Education

Sedgwick County Area Educational Services in Goddard, Kan. was mainly looking for special education teachers.

Assistant director Jim Harshbarger said the school travels to most of the states in the Midwest looking to fill these positions.

"We do like [Eastern's] special education program and there are probably more special education majors here than the other places the school travels to," he said.

Harshbarger said he first asks whether the person would be willing to move out of state and then looks for enthusiasm for the job.

"They have to show that spark that they are truly interested in the field," he said.

Harshbarger said he could tell within 30 seconds whether or not someone is right for the job by the way they present themselves and their dress.

Elementary education

The Paris Memorial School in Paris, Ill. was on campus to fill the two maternity leaves they have in the spring for kindergarten and second grade.

"At this point in time, we take their resumes and look at background and grade level," said Principal Jerry Whitacre. "We see how involved they are in the community and the school. It's the extra things that matter."

He said starting fall 2011, seven or eight openings for kindergarten through second grade would be open because of retirements.

Speech pathologists, psychologists

The Kaskaskia Special Education District was on campus looking for prospects in areas such as speech pathologists, school psychologists and interns.

"We are looking for professional dress and someone who is able to communicate with confidence and some energy," said assistant director Leigh Ann Richelman. "We could take prospects right away in January and would be open to looking at placing people for the fall."

The Grundy County Special Education Cooperative in Morris, Ill. looked for speech therapists, occupational therapists, school psychology interns and special education teaching positions.

"I want to see well-rounded students with student teaching experience, a lot of confidence and a positive attitude," said Neil Sandburg, director of special education. "First and foremost, I will look at positive attitude. We hire for attitude and train for aptitude."

He also said how someone presents themselves is important.

"You never get a second chance at a first impression," Sandburg said.

Willing students

Kacey Lies, senior physical education major, came to see what jobs were open and was willing to work anywhere.

One of the schools she looked at was in Texas.

Others wanted to stay closer to home.

The fair also drew students, like Kara Miller, who had already graduated.

"I just graduated in May, and I'm here to hopefully find a job or check into some schools to see if they are looking for jobs," said Miller, an elementary education major. "I heard there was an opening in Tolono, and I also looked at Charleston."

She said she wanted to look at schools that were close to where she lives in Arthur, Ill.

Nathanael Ellis, senior special education major, wants to teach anywhere in Champaign, Tolono, Danville, Urbana or Decatur.

"I hope to get perspective job outlooks and get my foot in the door," he said.

Lisa Vitale, a senior special education major, said even though she was not prepared when an interviewer from one of the schools asked her a question, she was there to practice for interviews in the future.

Heather Holm can be reached at 581-7942 or haholm@eiu.edu.

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