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Schools job fair a big hit for system
Hines with Helmly
Laura Hines a math and science teacher from New Orleans, speaks with Ebenezer Middle School Principal Beth Helmly and Assistant Principal Ramona Lovett. - photo by Photo by Sandi Van Orden

The Effingham County School System held its second annual job fair on Saturday at Marlow Elementary School.

Applicants were able to meet with principals and other administrators for a variety of jobs in the system including teachers, nurses, lunch workers, bus drivers and maintenance.

Ebenezer Middle School hired a teacher at the career fair. EMS principal Beth Helmly said the school hired an agriculture teacher.

“He did well, and we were able to grab a hold of him,” Helmly said.

She said the reputation of the school system helped to draw people to the job fair. The teacher EMS hired currently teaches in a county in west Georgia.

She said she had spoken with at least 50 people during the course of the day.

Dr. Mark Winters, principal at South Effingham Middle, said he had talked with a number of people through the day, but there is only one position open at the school at this time.

Patricia Mitchell was networking at the job fair while looking for an administrative position.

“I have some friends with children in the county, and they said it’s a wonderful system,” she said.

Effingham County High School Principal Yancy Ford said there had been a good turnout at the event. He said he had set up 14 interviews with social studies teachers for a position open at the school.

“It’s a good thing to see so many educators looking to relocate,” Ford said. “It says a lot about the county.”

Rob Porterfield, principal at Effingham County Middle School, said he had spoken with a number of quality candidates in all of the areas the school is in need of teachers.

Laura Hines, a teacher from New Orleans, was at the job fair.

“My husband is interviewing with a church in Savannah,” she said.

She said it happened that they were in the area for his interview while the job fair was happening.

“I think it’s great,” Hines said about the event. “It’s been helpful to get my resume out.”

Superintendent Randy Shearouse said there had been a “wonderful” turnout.

“There were more than 200 certified applications turned in today,” he said.

He said the event was positive for the schools, and the principals have had a wide choice of candidates to speak with, and many set up interviews with some of the applicants for this week.

“A new tradition has started for sure,” Shearouse said.