Posted in Human Resources

Behind the Classroom: Hiring the Support Staff That Keeps Schools Running

Support staff help keep schools running. They help other education professionals perform classroom and administrative duties.

Understanding how to hire school aides and school administrators lets you add the best members to your team. The following guidelines can help.

Hiring a School Aide

A school aide assists teachers in supervising students. Their duties include taking attendance, grading assignments, providing student support, and participating in staff meetings, in-service training, and school programs.

These guidelines support hiring a school aide:

Identify your hiring needs. Determine whether you need a full-time, part-time, or contract employee. Include the job responsibilities, necessary skills, preferred education level, industry experience, and hourly rate.
Create a budget. Consider the job location, desired education, experience level, and certifications when determining an hourly wage.
Develop the job description. Summarize the job responsibilities, required skills, and preferred experience. Include the hourly wage and the hiring manager’s first name.
Share the job posting. Consider promoting the job posting internally and through your network to encourage referrals. Share the job on social media and at local job fairs to build candidate relationships.
Conduct interviews. Provide in-depth information about the school, role, and responsibilities. Gauge each candidate’s interest, skills, and experience.
Extend a job offer. Send the job offer letter as soon as possible to help secure your top candidate. Include relevant details such as the work hours, hourly wage, benefits, job duties, responsibilities, and expectations.
Onboard your school aide. Share the new hire paperwork, the onboarding schedule, and other information to prepare for the first day of school.

Hiring a School Administrator

A school administrator fosters a positive educational environment where students and staff thrive. They motivate teachers, inspire students, and support a culture of continuous improvement to help the school reach its goals.

These guidelines support hiring a school administrator:

Define the job duties. Typical duties include monitoring daily operations, managing the budget, implementing educational policies, overseeing staff, and supporting student performance.
Clarify the skill requirements. Common skills include leadership, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Develop a job description. Highlight the responsibilities, required skills, and culture.
Form a hiring committee. Gather school board members, teachers, and parents to engage in the hiring process.
Post the job opening. Consider sharing the job posting on school websites, education-based job boards, and social media.
Screen candidates: Look for examples of leadership and problem-solving in resumes and cover letters.
Conduct interviews: Consider phone or video interviews to evaluate communication skills and understanding of the role. Invite top candidates for in-person interviews. Create questions about their school vision and strategies for overcoming challenges.
Check references: Verify each candidate’s work history and leadership style.
Extend a job offer: Send a job offer letter as soon as possible to increase the odds of hiring your first-choice candidate.

Need Help Hiring School Support Staff?

A local recruitment firm specializing in school support staff can help you find qualified staff to prepare for the school year. Contact your local PrideStaff office to discuss your hiring needs today!

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