BCSD to host annual teacher recruitment fair Saturday, March 11

Sign On Bonuses and Incentives Available to Qualifying Teachers

The Berkeley County School District (BCSD) will host its 16th Annual Teacher Recruitment Fair on Saturday, March 11, from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Cane Bay High School. The district is seeking to hire experienced educators as well as those who are new to the teaching profession. Over 300 individuals have already pre-registered for the event. The pre-registration deadline was March 5, but walk-ins are welcome on the day of the event.

Unique to BCSD this year are the incentives offered to educators who sign on to teach at rural schools or in critical subject areas throughout the district. Classroom teachers who are new to BCSD for the 2017-18 school year may receive up to $5,000 in signing bonuses for teaching in a rural area school and up to $3,000 in signing bonuses for non-rural area schools. The district is also offering a $1,500 relocation reimbursement for teachers moving from out-of-state and for those in-state teachers who join BCSD to teach in critical subject areas in a qualifying rural school.

“In Berkeley County, we know that our strongest asset is our exceptional teaching staff,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Glenda Levine. “As school districts across the nation and state work to confront the challenges of teacher shortages, we at BCSD are focusing our investment on attracting and retaining the very best educators for our schools. We are excited to announce the incentives available for educators who choose Berkeley County.”

The following are details of the BCSD new rural area and non-rural area incentives:

• $5,000 for any new classroom teacher for 2017-2018 in a RURAL middle or high school (all subject areas); $3,000 for the first year, and $2,000 upon signing a contract for a second year. Rural schools to include: Cross High, Timberland High, Macedonia Middle, and St. Stephen Middle Schools.
• $5,000 for any new special education classroom teacher for 2017-2018 in a RURAL school; $3,000 for the first year, and $2,000 upon signing a contract for the second year. Rural schools to include Cross Elementary, J.K. Gourdin Elementary, H.E. Bonner Elementary, Cainhoy Elementary, and St. Stephen Elementary Schools. NON-RURAL AREA SCHOOLS
• $3,000 for any new classroom teacher for 2017-2018 in a NON-RURAL school for critical subject areas; $2,000 for the year, and $1,000 upon signing a contract for the second year.
• $2,000 for any new special education classroom teacher for 2017-2018 in a NON-RURAL school; $1,000 for the first year, and $1,000 upon signing a contract for the second year.

RELOCATION REIMBURSEMENT

• Up to $1,500 for teachers moving from out of state and for in-state teachers moving over 100 miles to BCSD to teach in a critical subject area in a qualifying rural school.