The Guam Department of Education will be hosting a job fair this Friday at Okkodo High School in Dededo in preparation for School Year 2022-2023.

The island's largest school system has over 300 teacher vacancies - 101 in the elementary division, 169 in secondary education, and about 36 in special education, counselors, librarians among other ancillary positions. According to deputy superintendent of operations Erika Cruz, unfilled positions are usually higher. 

"The numbers are quite low," she admitted. "We typically have over 300 vacancies and so these numbers are pretty good."

It's a problem the whole country is experiencing. "Well, it's always been a struggle for the Guam Department of Education to fill  vacancies so it's not a secret as far as teacher shortages. Teacher shortages is nation-wide and its not just specific to Guam."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide it was reported about 5.2% of educational service positions remain open as of February 2022. That is an increase from 3.3% in February 2021.

Cruz stated that the island's largest GovGuam agency wants to fill empty positions at this week's job fair. "We hope to be able to fill these positions with recent graduates from the University of Guam," she added. "Obviously, we also do have retirees that we hope that will come back as well as limited term teachers who are temporarily certified to come back and fill these positions."

Onsite interviews will be conducted strictly for teacher positions.  It is open to the public and applications will be available for school aides and substitute teachers.

The recruitment drive is scheduled for 10am to 2pm on Friday at Okkodo High School in Dededo.

Application forms can be downloaded at gdoe.net. For more information, contact GDOE's Human Resources Office at 671-475-0496 or email at [email protected].