Recruiting
Akron Public Schools: There's a place here for you!

• Akron, Ohio – an All America City
• You and Akron Public Schools
• The benefits of teaching in Akron
• How to become an Akron Public Schools teacher
• Human Resources Web site

Akron, Ohio – an All America City (Back to Top)
Picture a city which blends the charm of colonial New England with Midwestern hospitality, yet possesses the energy and innovative spirit of the West Coast. A city that offers a harmonious balance of metropolitan convenience and small-town values. Akron, Ohio, the 1995 All America City, feels like home to matter where you come from.

Living in Akron:
Whether you prefer a cozy bungalow; a stately, early-century estate; or a contemporary home on a cul-de-sac, you'll find it in Akron. Few areas in the country offer a wider choice in living styles. Even more important, the cost of quality housing in Akron is among the lowest in the country.

You will often hear it said that everything in Akron is only 20 minutes away. Major shopping malls and plazas are conveniently located, ranging from outlet shopping to a revitalized downtown Quaker Square, once a former cereal mill. Restaurants of every type give Akron the reputation for an exceptional variety of continental cuisine. Akron worshippers attend more than 450 churches and synagogues representing 67 denominations.

Whatever your cultural interest – music, art, theater or ballet – you won't have to leave Akron to enjoy them. Akron is the home of the renowned Ohio Ballet and the Akron Symphony Orchestra. The Akron Art Museum is one of the few in the nation specializing in American art of the 19th and 20th centuries. The E. J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall has been called one of the most innovative pieces of architecture in the world with seating for 3,000. And the historic Akron Civic Theatre, designed as a Mediterranean Moorish Castle Garden, complete with floating clouds and stars, is one of the few remaining atmospheric theatres.

For the sports enthusiasts, Akron has it all. The Akron Aeros, a Cleveland Indians minor league team, plays ball in the beautiful new downtown Canal Park Stadium. Akron hosts an annual professional golf and bowling tournament. For amateur weekend warriors, there are more than 60 public and private golf courses and hundreds of facilities for tennis, bowling, racquetball and fitness programs. For those who prefer the great outdoors, Akron has an outstanding park system. The Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, a 30,000-acre national park, is ideal for running, biking, hiking or horseback riding through wetlands, forests and along the Ohio & Erie Canal.

Working in Akron:
Since the founding of Akron in 1825, innovation has driven the advancement of the city's economy. Akron began as a boom town on the canal, attracting cereal mills and manufacturers of farm machinery, clay products and pottery. As dependence on transportation via the canal waned, Akron evolved into the Rubber Capital of the World and became the headquarters for some of the major tire manufacturers.

Today, Akron is known as the "polymer valley" of the Midwest. Major polymer research and development takes place in 400 polymer-related companies employing thousands. Over 150 Fortune 500 companies have facilities in greater Akron, with four headquartered here, as well as many of the nation's most important manufacturers in such diverse fields as aerospace, nuclear power, metals, plastics and chemicals. No wonder Akron was selected for the site of the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1995.

• Akron Civic Theatre
• the Akron library with 17 area branches
• the Akron Zoological Park
• Blossom Music Center
• Canal Park
• Carousel Dinner Theatre
• Hale Farm and Western Reserve Village, recreated early-19th century working farm/community
• Hower House, 115-year-old restored High Victorian mansion
• National Inventors Hall of Fame
• Soap Box Derby
• Stan Hywet Hall, 65-room manor house considered the finest example of Tudor Revival architecture in the United States
• Weathervane Playhouse

Nearby:

• Cedar Point Amusement Park
• the Football Hall of Fame
• Gund Arena
• Jacobs Field
• the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Geauga Lake Amusement Park

Just the facts:

• Akron is Ohio's fifth largest city
• 62.41 square miles
• population of 212,215
• located 30 miles south of Cleveland
• founded in 1825

Akron possesses a rich, diverse cultural and economical mix:

• 32.8% minority (predominately African-American)
• median family income is $39,381

Famous Akronites:

• LeBron James
• Chrissy Hynde of the Pretenders (APS graduate)
• Devo
• Hugh Downs
• Judy Resnik (APS graduate)
• Melina Kanakaredes (APS graduate)
• Ara Parseghian (APS graduate)
• James Ingram (APS graduate)
• Rita Dove (APS graduate)
• Angie Everhart (APS graduate)

You and Akron Public Schools (Back to Top)
When you join Akron Public Schools, you become a member of a proud, dedicated and caring family. A pioneer in public education since 1847, the legacy of educating all children has been handed down from teacher to teacher for generations.

However, Akron Public Schools family extends well beyond the staff and students in the district. Our community plays a nurturing role in keeping that family strong. Akron citizens care deeply about the education and future of Akron's children. In 1847, they crafted the first public school system of its kind in the state. Akron soon became the model for all other public school systems in Ohio. Today the descendants of those educational pioneers still believe in public education. In fact, in 1997, 150 years after its beginning, over 350 members of this community joined together to write a strategic plan to direct the district's future. The plan includes this mission statement:

The mission of the Akron Public Schools, a pioneer in academic excellence passionately committed to life-long learning, is to ensure that each student in our diverse population achieves his or her fullest potential in a safe and affirming learning center characterized by an extensive, student-focused collaboration of all segments of the community, with an emphasis on preparing students to live and excel in a global environment_Y

The heart at the end of the statement is significant. It punctuates the love and dedication these volunteers poured into the creation of Akron schools Strategic Plan – a plan which will provide the direction to providing the best education possible for all children.

Akron teachers:
We have a teaching staff of approximately 2,000 dedicated professionals, all trained to meet the needs of Akron's diverse student population. The average Akron teacher has been in the classroom for over 16 years and has over 30 additional hours of graduate-level training. Additionally, our teachers participate in staff development programs to upgrade their teaching skills and to stay on the cutting edge of the instructional program.

Support staff:
Akron Public Schools employs many people who directly support classroom instruction and handle business functions. Here are some examples:

• Child Nutrition Services prepares and serves an average of 28,272 meals daily.
• Maintenance and custodial staff keep 71 school facilities clean and in good working order.
• Bus drivers and mechanics transport 6,050 youngsters daily and maintain a fleet of 64 yellow buses.
• Purchasing and Distribution Services buys, stores and distributes about $4 million worth of consumable goods, equipment and textbooks each year.
• Secretaries, buildings/grounds, property management, data processors and architects provide daily support.

Bargaining units:
Six recognized bargaining units represent teachers/professional staff; office support staff; educational assistants; foremen; child nutrition services employees; and maintenance, buildings and grounds, transportation and distribution employees.

Community partners:
Our schools are an extension of the Akron community. From the youngest students to the oldest, many facets of our community provide services and guidance to our students, parents and staff. For example, with the assistance of area day care providers, Akron Public Schools offers extended-day activities for working parents. We work closely with social service organizations, city government, church groups and community organizations to provide training for parents, clothing for children and family counseling. Our Business Advisory Council actively works with our staff to direct and develop experiences to prepare our young people for work.

Akron Public Schools gives back to the community. We offer an overage high school and adult education classes. Our students and staff volunteer in the community. We also provide access to our middle schools for community activities that are of an educational, cultural, recreational or civic nature.

Reasons we're proud of the Akron schools:
Akron Public Schools has a long history of success in a variety of areas. Here are just a few:

• Akron Public Schools has a state rating of Continuous Improvement and is widely considered one of the best urban districts in Ohio.
• Akron Public Schools is considered a leader in the use of educational technology. Each of Akron's 53 schools is wired for access to the Internet. Currently, there is one computer for every five students at the elementary level, one computer for every six students at the middle-school level, and computer labs and computer classes at each of our eight high schools.
• National Board Certification has been awarded to 20 Akron teachers.
• The graduating class of 2006 received more than $12 million in scholarships.
• Firestone High School is one of only 15 high schools in Ohio to offer the world-wide International Baccalaureate Program (Pre-IB courses are offered to current ninth- and 10th-graders). The first class of IB diploma candidates graduated in June 1998, with 80 percent earning the prestigious IB Diploma.

The benefits of teaching in Akron (Back to Top)
At Akron Public Schools, we consider teachers one of our most important assets. We employ approximately 2,000 teachers from all walks of life and corners of the globe. We relish new teachers and fresh ideas, value the wealth of knowledge of our experienced teachers, and revel in the diversity each brings to our classrooms.

The opportunities for teaching in Akron are many. We have:

• seven comprehensive high schools, 10 middle schools and 36 elementary schools;
• special education programs for physically, mentally and emotionally challenged youngsters including classes in speech therapy;
• positions in art, music, library/media, foreign languages, social studies, science, mathematics, language arts, health, physical education and career education;
• adult vocational training and basic skill programs;
• special school-wide programs which include visual and performing arts and International Baccalaureate;
• gifted and talented, advanced placement and post-secondary programs;
• drug-free education; and
• integrated preschool.

We have specialized services to assist you such as:

• learning specialists to serve as consultants to teachers;
• psychologists, guidance counselors and home-school staff;
• a staff development center housing the professional library, learning specialists, central audio-visual library and a radio-television studio;
• a Teenage Parent Center; and
• Title 1 Supplemental Education programs.

You will have opportunities for continued professional growth including:

• orientation programs;
• mentor program;
• staff development;
• curriculum development programs;
• technology workshops;
• a leadership program for teachers interested in administrative positions; and
• graduate study at nearby universities throughout the Akron-Cleveland area.

A competitive salary schedule:
Akron's salary schedule is competitive with other urban districts in the state of Ohio and provides for earned increments based on years of experience and training.

How to become an Akron Public Schools teacher (Back to Top)
We are looking for teaching professionals who have:

• a genuine interest in children;
• proficiency and skill in teaching techniques, such as: skill in planning, efficiency in handling duties, ability to secure pupil cooperation, development of effective work attitudes and habits, and skill in evaluating pupil growth;
• a professional spirit which manifests itself in constant self-improvement, active participation in cooperative endeavors, effective parent relationships, loyalty to associates and willingness to try new procedures and materials;
• scholarship, which makes itself evident in a thorough command of your field of work and which continues in breadth and depth;
• a commitment to work in a multicultural environment rich in diversity;
• technology skills which include classroom management and the integration of technology into the curriculum including the ability to effectively communicate, access information, analyze data and research, and solve problems;
• an understanding of the concept of multiple intelligences and the various learning styles of students;
• a willingness to engage in continuous professional growth opportunities that enhance personal and classroom skills designed to improve instruction;
• the ability to encourage child-centered environments that utilize active, cooperative and real-life learning experiences; and
• substituting and/or tutoring experience (while not prerequisites to being hired, they certainly enhance your ability to be considered for Akron Public Schools).

Your credentials must include:

• a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university;
• evidence of good health (medical forms are provided at the time of employment); and
• a current Ohio teacher's certificate valid for the subjects or grade levels which you will teach.

Successful full-time teaching experience is not required; however, in many instances, it is considered to be an advantage.

If your qualifications make you a good candidate to become a member of the Akron Public Schools family, here's how to apply:

• Complete the application form and return it at your earliest convenience.
• Return the application with the following:
• resumé;
• cover letter;
• copy of unofficial transcript;
• three letters of reference;
• credentials (evaluations and references) from your university; and
• copy of your certificate.
Forward to: Human Resources, Akron Public Schools, 70 N. Broadway, Akron OH 44308-1911
• After a review of the completed application form and accompanying documents, candidates in those teaching fields where vacancies are anticipated will be requested to appear for a personal interview.

If you have any questions, call Sandra Burke in the Human Resources Office at 330/761-2946; or visit the Human Resources Web site.

↓ Click on "Other APS Links" below for the complete links list.