Recruiting Generation X and Y: Insight from the AASPA Conference

The American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA) Conference is gathering in Kansas City this week. Yesterday, I attended a workshop on hiring and retaining generation X and Y by Rochelle Eisenberg, a workforce lawyer who represents school districts in Maryland. Rochelle had a number of interesting ideas related to how to attract this generation of teachers and keep them in your schools. Below are a few ideas, while some may be a little outside the box, it seems many districts are getting creative in how they retain staff.

• Advertising, advertising, advertising (This generation has had more information at their fingertips than any other...they want to gather as much information about you as an employer as they can. You can provide this in brochures, your district website, and employment boards)
• Use multimedia (Develop a video that you can use online and share on a DVD with potential candidates that highlights your district)
• Tuition reimbursement (This generation is interested in continued education and career growth...offer them financial options for this)
• Collaboration time (highlight your district or buildings collaboration times and how teachers are using it)
• Health club (Many districts across the country are negotiating agreements with local gyms to provide memberships to district employees, some districts are also opening the doors to gyms and weight rooms after hours for employees as a cost effective way of providing health club access)
• Technology (This generation has had their own laptops for as long as they can remember...provide each teacher with their own and upgrade teacher lounges for internet and computer access)
• Better lunches (Many districts are getting creative in offering designer coffee, snacks, and great lunch options for teachers in the lounge)

More to come soon from the AASPA Conference!