Stock image teacher shortage

NASHUA — Wanted: Qualified, capable educators to help return the Nashua School District to its full complement of teachers and staff, with special focus on the positions on the state Department of Education’s Critical Shortage List.

Anyone who meets those qualifications is urged to stop by the district’s special job fair that’s scheduled for today (Tuesday) from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at Nashua High School North, 8 Titan Way.

To sweeten the pot a bit, interim Superintendent of Schools Garth McKinney said the district is now offering signing bonuses to candidates “for positions critical to operations (of city schools) for the upcoming school year.”

Each candidate who attends the fair will be assured a 15-minute on-site interview, McKinney said.

Positions eligible for a signing bonus include:

* Teachers currently on the state Department of Education Critical Shortage List: $1,000 signing bonus. (The list can be found at https://nhdoepm.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CHD/pages/347963415/Critical+Shortage+List)

* School nurses: $1,000 bonus

* Food service employees: $400 bonus

* Security monitors: $300 bonus

* Lunch monitors: $300

* Crossing guards: $300

* 21st Century Extended Day Program staff: $300 bonus.

“We’re hiring from paras to plumbers,” McKinney said of the initiative. “The goal is to hire the most capable candidates.”

A major contributor to the current shortage of teachers and staff was the COVID-19 pandemic, which McKinney said “exacerbated the national teacher shortage and other education-related and school operations-related fields.

“Our needs are real and we look to rebuild a full complement of staff and fill each open position to fulfill the promise of new school year,” he added.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256, dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_DeanS.