Very Rev. Jamin S. David, J.C.L., V.G. | Diocese of Baton Rouge

Representatives from the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Baton Rouge and St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge have expressed satisfaction with the response to the inaugural Catholic Educator Career Expo. The event, held at St. Michael High School last month, aimed to combat the local and national teacher shortage by proactively recruiting prospective educators for Catholic schools.

"The idea for the Catholic Educator Career Expo was born from a need to get creative with our recruitment of teachers – not just at St. Michael High School, but at all schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge," explained Julie Lechich, assistant principal at St. Michael. "We hoped to develop a means of helping prospective educators become more acquainted with the various pathways in becoming a Catholic school teacher."

The expo, titled "Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a teacher in a Catholic School?", saw approximately 20 attendees. Claire Willis, assistant superintendent of Catholic schools, highlighted the success of the outreach effort, stating, "We gave them a general overview of the benefits and joys of teaching in a Catholic School. We exposed people to careers in Catholic education who may not have seen themselves as teachers."

The event aimed to attract a diverse range of individuals, including public school teachers, career changers, retirees, those seeking certification, recent college graduates, and parents who have taken time off to raise children. Parish school of religion teachers were also targeted as potential candidates for Catholic school teaching positions.

To provide attendees with more information and resources, several credentialing agencies participated in the expo. These included the LSU and Southern University education departments, the Louisiana Resource Center for Educators, and iTeach. They presented information about their programs and how they can support individuals interested in pursuing a career in Catholic education.

One of the highlights of the expo was a panel discussion featuring eight educators from various diocesan schools. These educators shared their personal experiences and the paths they took to enter the field of Catholic education. Willis noted that all the panelists were not initially planning to pursue a career in Catholic education. However, they shared their reasons for choosing this path and emphasized the positive impact it has had on their lives.

Overall, the Catholic Educator Career Expo provided an opportunity for individuals to explore and learn about the rewarding profession of teaching in a Catholic school. The event successfully addressed the need for innovative recruitment strategies to overcome the teacher shortage in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. With the support of the Catholic Schools Office and St. Michael High School, it is hoped that more individuals will consider a career in Catholic education, inspired by the stories and insights shared by the panelists.