On Tuesday, Lehigh University’s College of Education held a job fair at Iacocca Hall. Graduate students and teachers gathered to meet potential employers from local school districts.
Twenty-one school districts joined the fair, representing a mix of public, charter, and private schools. This year’s event was special because it took place earlier in the semester. Brook Sawyer, an associate dean at the College of Education, said they wanted to give students a chance to connect with employers before making job commitments.
The university partnered with Lehigh’s Center for Career and Professional Development. Ali Erk from the center helped promote the fair and conducted a workshop for students to prepare them.
Karen Zacca, from Moravian Academy, noted a positive change in attendance this year. “It looks like there’s about double the candidates walking around this job fair today,” she said. “It’s a great chance for students to meet employers.”
The fair was organized partly due to an ongoing teacher shortage, both locally and nationally. The Learning Policy Institute highlights that over 411,000 teaching positions went unfilled in the 2024-25 school year—about one in eight. School districts are struggling, especially for positions in special education and STEAM fields, as mentioned by Ramona Hollie from Allentown Area School District.
Interestingly, not all schools face the same challenges. Zacca remarked that Moravian Academy hasn’t had trouble recruiting teachers, despite a tighter budget.
Zac Martin, a graduate student, attended the fair to secure a job. “I’m not from the Lehigh Valley, so I don’t have connections here,” he explained. “These events help build networks and discover opportunities.”
Sawyer acknowledged that while the fair connects students with jobs, it doesn’t tackle the core issues driving the teacher shortage. “We need more people wanting to enter education,” she said.
She understands the challenges teachers face. “It’s a hard job,” Sawyer said. “You put in a lot of effort for relatively low pay, but the benefits are significant—you’re shaping the next generation.”
Jamie Hill, a principal, echoed these concerns, stating, “No teacher is paid enough. I’ve been in education for almost 20 years, and I’ve never felt compensated fairly.”
Despite issues like low salaries, Sawyer aims to inspire students through creative initiatives. One project, “What’s Your Why?”, features educators sharing the joy they find in teaching.
“You are making a difference in students’ lives and your community,” Sawyer added. “Teaching is a powerful profession that embodies social justice. It’s essential work.”
As schools and communities navigate these challenges together, fostering connections between new educators and potential employers at events like this can provide paths to a brighter educational future.
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