Some large school districts, like St. Paul Public Schools, pre-interview and screen candidates from various disciplines to create an exclusive applicant hiring pool from which principals identify candidates they will hire and/or second-interview for hire.

You may not be considered for a position at these school districts if you have not been interviewed for and accepted into these hiring pools. Before applying to large school districts, it is good practice to inquire whether or not they hire exclusively from an applicant hiring pool, as your application may not be considered if you apply for the position and have not been pre-interviewed and accepted into that pool.

St. Paul Public Schools Applicant Pool Information

St. Paul Public Schools hires from two separate applicant pools...one is a "Substitute Teacher Pool" and one is a "Hiring Pool" for full-time teaching positions. Each hiring pool must be interviewed for separately.

Laura Olawsky (651) 767-8206 is the St. Paul Public Schools HR Manager, and is the contact for further information regarding these St. Paul applicant pools.

Saint Paul Public Schools Teacher Selection Process
(Courtesy of St. Paul School District, '03)

1. Human Resource Department personnel “paper screen” applications. This screening includes a review of the application, credentials and transcripts for quality and relevancy and also consists of confidential reference checks to persons identified by the candidate on the application form.
   
2. Applications who successfully make it through the paper screening process may be invited to participate in a formal interview. (Note: Because of the large number of applicants, it is not possible to interview everyone who applies.)
   
3. A structured screening interview will be conducted by a team comprised of a principal, a teacher and a parent or community person.
   
4. Applicants who are successful in these to two screening processes will be designated “candidates” for further consideration as vacancies occur.
   
5. Principals may interview candidates whose qualifications “match” the position needing to be filled and make a recommendation to the Human Resource Department as to the successful candidate they would like for their position/school.
   
6. The successful candidate is then notified by a Human Resources representative and invited to come in and complete all necessary paperwork, sign a contract and set a date for orientation.
   
7. If you are not successful in obtaining a contracted position, SUBSTITUTE! We keep our substitutes very busy. Substitute teaching provides invaluable experience