Erin McCarthy ’13: With the 2012-2013 school year coming to a close, school administrators are looking ahead as they continue the hiring process for new teachers. These teachers will replace faculty members who will not be returning to Episcopal in September, either by the current teacher’s own choice or by the choice of the administration to not send the current teacher a contract for the next academic year. All Episcopal teachers have a one year contract.
Every March, these contracts are sent out to “the vast majority of teachers for the following school year,” according to Geoffrey Wagg, Head of Upper School. This practice occurs each year and is consistent with most area schools.
“Pennsylvania’s what’s known as an ‘at will’ state which means contract or not you’re hired until we don’t need your services anymore,” noted Wagg.
“It’s like any occupation. If you’re not doing your job properly or you’re not effective in your job, that would be a reason [for not renewing a teacher’s contract],” stated Wagg. “If you did something really bad – you can figure out what those things are – that would be a reason [as well].”
He assured, “The proportion of people who fit into that category is always very, very small.”
Student feedback, which is documented each year using an online program called Folio, does not directly influence decisions regarding contract renewal.
“At the end of the school year, [Upper School teachers] will sit down with their department chair and go through all the feedback that’s in Folio,” explained Wagg. “It’s not just student feedback. It’s faculty feedback [as well]. [At the beginning of the year, teachers] write goals for the year and that really is the fabric of that [summary] conversation.”
He elaborated, “It’s not like we’re asking for student feedback in January so we can figure out whether or not [teachers are] going to get a contract in March.”
“Our teachers do a great job…we’re [not] using the feedback to determine contract stuff. We’re using the feedback to help everyone be better at what they do,” he stated.
Teachers who are not doing their jobs properly “know well in advance if there’s an issue,” according to Wagg. “It’s not going to be a surprise that you didn’t get a contract in the mail.”
Once the administration knows which teachers will be returning the following year, the hiring process commences.
“The moment we know that there is a position available, we will post it internally and externally,” explained Wagg. “We have companies…that do teacher placement. We post it on our website. Sometimes we put advertisements in different publications.”
He continued, “Mrs. [Tracie] Lee coordinates…that process. When we identify people we think would be good teachers, we bring them in to interview [and to teach] demo classes for us.”
Wagg estimated that the administration selects approximately six candidates for each open position.
He also noted that “people internally can apply for different jobs…If [teachers] want to change roles they can do that.”
Candidates for classroom teaching positions are interviewed by Wagg, Head of School L. Hamilton Clark, Academic Dean Cathy Hall, Dean of Faculty Doug Parsons, Director of Diversity and Community Life Courtney Portlock, and members of the academic department for which the teacher is applying.
“Mr. Clark ultimately decides who gets hired,” stated Wagg.
The hiring process for administrative positions, such as the Class of 2017 form dean position, is more complex. Wagg noted that his successor, Delvin Dinkins, will interview all the candidates applying to be a form dean. Wagg himself has not met all the candidates yet and does not know whether the dean will be hired internally or externally.
Episcopal does not require all teachers to have earned a Masters degree.
Wagg noted, “We look for fit. We look for people’s ability to get along with students obviously because that’s their job. Teaching experience and your degree matter.”
“If you’ve been teaching a subject for twenty five years and never got around to getting your masters degree, it’s not going to knock you out of the running…It’ll depend on what you’ve done over the past twenty five years.”