Hopefuls in search of jobs at ENMU teacher fair

PORTALES — With her husband stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, Heather Alvarez attended a teacher fair Tuesday at Eastern New Mexico University hoping to find a job in the Portales-Clovis area.

The good news is the Clovis and Portales school districts are looking for teachers.

“I want to stay in the general area, because I have a young child and with daycare early in the morning, I don’t want to have to travel far,” said Alvarez, who completed the spring semester and is receiving her teacher certification. She would like to be a junior high teacher.

Clovis and Portales were among the 30 schools in New Mexico and Texas to send representatives to the fair.

Henry Montano, dual language coordinator for the Clovis Municipal Schools, said there are openings junior high and high school openings for English, science and math teachers at Clovis. Montano said there are also openings for a counselor, athletic trainer and in elementary education.

“It’s nice to have Eastern here where students can pick up good teaching skills and graduate good students who want to stay in the area.”

Ty Walker, ENMU director of counseling and career services, estimated there were about 130 students looked for jobs during the teacher fair.

“Things have changed with “No Child Left Behind” and school districts having to come up with internal funding,” Walker said. “They’re not hiring as much as they used to, but there is still a need for teachers. Teachers retire and leave.”

Walker said the bottom line is that school districts are still looking for teachers.

“Young teachers want jobs and districts are looking for teachers,” Walker said. “It’s a great experience for students. They are able to make great contacts for networking with districts. Their resumes are given out and they know what the districts are wanting from students.”

Priscilla Hernandez, director of instruction for the Portales Schools, said the district has openings for special education, a speech language pathologist and an elementary teacher.

Hernandez and Montano estimated they visited with 30 students each during the day.