Welcome to the Recruitment Services homepage! Recruitment Services is one segment of HISD’s Human Resources department. In April 2009, the Recruitment Services team refocused its efforts on Human Capital with aims of finding the very top talent for HISD. As a result of the changes that began occurring in April, if you have worked with HISD Recruitment Services in the past you will quickly observe that much has changed. Some of these changes include but are not limited to: the TeacherInsight Assessment required when applying to any instructional positions, an e-mail address as our primary method of communication (recruiter@houstonisd.org), and new recruitment events for our Fall Calendar. Other changes in our department will be apparent as your browse through our recently updated site. Please use the menu on the right to explore what Recruitment Services has to offer. Thank you for your interest in HISD.

Many Priorities,
One Focus.

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL

The Human Resources Department (HR) periodically holds job fairs for bus drivers, crossing guards, custodians, food service helpers, groundskeepers, and other non-instruction-related positions. Notices of these events are posted on the HR front door and the district’s main Web site, HISDConnect.

STUDENT TEACHERS / OBSERVERS

The Human Resources Department (HR) works with universities to assist in student teaching and pre-service observation placement.  Prior to physically visiting an HISD campus (as an observer or student teacher), please visit the Student Teacher / Observer page for more information.

INSTRUCTIONAL & SPECIALIZED

The Recruitment Services division of HR handles the screening and hiring of teachers, nurses, and other specialized campus staff members. However, because of the large number of applicants for each open position, its procedures have changed.

Please make a note of the following policies, which went into effect during the summer of 2009:

1. Due to staffing limitations, we regret that walk-in applicants can no longer be processed. To apply for an open teaching position, please follow the instructions located here. A recruiter will contact you if you are selected for an interview.
2. All inquiries should be sent by e-mail to recruiter@houstonisd.org. This is the quickest way to reach someone. Since applicants are not assigned to any particular recruiter, any one of them should be able to respond to any applicant’s question or concern.
3. All candidates for instructional positions must complete a TeacherInsight Assessment as a part of their application

Who We Are Looking For:
HISD is seeking motivated teachers who are invested in making an impact on student achievement. These individuals operate under a “no excuses” mindset and will do whatever it takes to ensure that their students succeed. They set goals, use data to drive their instruction, hold their students to the highest expectations, and believe without a doubt that every child can and will learn.

The Skill Set We Seek:
These teachers are strong critical thinkers who are constantly looking for ways to improve their instruction through professional development. They realize that more is accomplished through collaboration than isolation and therefore participate in professional learning communities, design common assessments for their content areas, and take a team approach to problem-solving.

They understand the value of creating a welcoming classroom environment that is well-managed, objective driven, and student-centered. They have a deep respect for the diversity that exists in their classrooms and the surrounding school community.

They are experts in their content area and have a tool box full of instructional strategies they can draw upon to meet the needs of every learner. They possess excellent communication and strategic-thinking skills which assist them in planning and executing effective lessons. Most importantly, they love what they do!

Stay Tuned:
Recruitment Services will continue to integrate new “best practices” into its procedures. An events calendar and other updates are expected to be posted soon.

Human Resources periodically holds job fairs for teachers, food service staff, bus drivers, and more. Recruiting schedules or job fair announcements are posted on the right in the Index section of this page.

For additional information about our job fairs please contact HISD Recruitment at recruiter@houstonisd.org.

Houston ISD also hires teachers from other countries when there is a critical shortage of personnel in the United States. This process requires a Labor Condition Application to be filed with the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. These notices, when applicable, are listed under the "Labor Condition Application" link in Employment Information.

Below are the scheduled dates for the office of Recruitment Services.  Included are the new HISD Screening Blitz events.  Click on the event name (highlighted in blue) for more information.  Please note that the recruitment audience for the universities listed are specific to the student population of that university exclusively.  If you are NOT a student of the university (listed below) do NOT make plans to attend.

This schedule is subject to change

For more information please contact: recruiter@houstonisd.org

All openings for the Houston Independent School District (instructional, non-instructional, support, administrative, clerical, nurses, psychologists, food service, police officers and more) are posted online. We are unable to accept paper documentation (i.e. resumes, cover letters, transcripts, etc.) at the beginning of the application process. Below identifies the process that you should follow to apply for a teaching position:

1. Visit the HISD Jobs site and create an account.
2. Search for jobs and, upon selecting one of interest, click the job title to see more information about that position.
3. To apply for that position, click the "Apply for this Position" button and follow the blue link to complete the TeacherInsight Gallup Poll (online, 30-45 minute assessment for instructional positions – now required of all applicants for instructional positions).
4. If prompted, enter the HISD District Code: 20154585.
5. Begin applying for positions at various campuses in which you have interest/certifications.

Please note that HISD is a decentralized district. This means that the online applications are submitted to the campuses (and/or departments) to which you’ve applied. It is up to the individual campus principals (or department managers) to review the applications and determine who will be asked to an interview (in most cases, not all applicants will be granted an interview). When a campus/department selects a candidate from the interview pool, it will be then that any necessary documentation (resumes, etc.) will be requested.

Previous Teaching Experience

Be sure to review the Service Record Procedures FAQ for how to get credit for previous teaching or substitute experience.

Non-Certified Teachers

If you are not a certified teacher, you may be eligible for the Houston Independent School District's Alternative Certification Program. Please review the program requirements.

If you meet the program requirements, print the application and apply for acceptance into the program. If you are accepted as an intern and selected for employment, it is possible to begin teaching this school year.

ACP Applicant Information

If you are enrolled in an ACP program, you are eligible to apply for positions in HISD. Follow the same steps as standard certified teachers, but when you enter your certification, choose your content area, then list it as a Probationary Certificate for a length of one school year. Even though you haven’t been issued your certificate by your program yet, it is necessary for you to list this certification to apply.

More Information

If you have any questions or concerns, contact HISD Recruitment Services at recruiter@houstonisd.org.

Certification

What do I do if I'm a certified teacher moving to Houston from another state/country?
Please refer to the section of the SBEC Web site that provides an explanation on how to become a teacher in Texas.

How do I become certified if I'm not already?
Visit the Alternative Certification Program Web site for details.

Does HISD hire from outside of its own Alternative Certification Program?
Yes, we do. Although we may preference our own HISD ACP candidates first, we do hire from a variety of 20+ ACP programs throughout the state of Texas.

International Candidates

Do you sponsor H1B visas? What is the process for sponsorship?
Yes, we do, but only for critical shortage areas, which currently include: secondary math, secondary science, Spanish, Special Education, English as a Second Language, and bilingual. The process of sponsorship is always at the discretion of the principal.

What are the companies that evaluate foreign transcripts?
Please refer to the SBEC Web site for this information:

How do I become a teacher if I am from a country outside of the U.S.? I heard that HISD would help me get a legal status in the USA.
We follow the same guidelines as every other employer in the country.

Next Steps

Now that I have completed the interview with a recruiter/HR, what's the next step?
If you have not completed the application online, you should do so. A cover letter is required. Continue to apply only to positions in your certification area. Be sure to prepare official transcripts from each university, and make sure that your reference and contact information is up to date, you possess a current social security card, and you have an up to date government-issued photo ID.

Where do I mail/fax my transcripts and other documents? Do I send them in now or just wait?
Please do not send documents to our office unless someone from HR or a specific campus has requested them.

Other

I filled out the on-line application, but did not apply for any jobs. Is there anything else I need to do?
Yes. First you need to apply for jobs. Applying for a position with HISD is a two-part process. Part I: Fill out an application first. Part II: Actually apply for the job.

Please note that candidates cannot be contacted by principals without actually applying for the jobs. Since the site is updated daily with new vacancies and new application information, it is suggested that you set a time or day to check for additional opportunities. You can sort by posting date to see the most recent postings.

Recruitment 101

What is a recruiter's job?
Our job is to seek out the best candidates who are likely to be a strong fit for a particular position that will meet the needs of the students of the district.

What can a recruiter do for me?
A recruiter evaluates candidates to try and determine whether or not a candidate is the best fit. Our job is to refer people to whatever job is the best fit.

What recruitment incentives, sign-on bonuses, or stipends do you offer?
ASPIRE is the most well-known incentive that HISD offers. ASPIRE is HISD's educational-improvement and performance-management model that engages all employees in creating a culture of excellence. HISD also offers recruitment and retention bonuses, but stipends vary greatly by position.

Two of the most common incentives offered in the previous academic year included: bilingual, secondary math, secondary science incentive ($6,000), critical shortage incentive ($5,000), English as a Second Language (ESL), secondary Spanish, and all Special Education. Terms and conditions applied to all of these incentives.

Can the recruiters help me get a transfer to another job/campus/department in HISD? If you are interested in an internal transfer, you must apply online for the position during the open transfer period, which usually lasts from early May to early or mid-June. The recruitment team hosts a transfer fair during the open transfer period. If interested, please attend the appropriate event that matches your certification area. For a non-teaching position, apply directly online and contact the hiring manager.

Self-Marketing

What's the best way to market myself/get in contact with principals? No one ever gets back to me when I apply online.
Make sure your contact information is up to date so that when principals do attempt to contact you, they have the most accurate information available. Also, please verify that you only have one account open on HISD jobs. It is difficult to reach out to applicants who have multiple accounts.

Can I contact a campus directly after I have applied online?
Yes.

Support

What kinds of technology, professional development, curriculum, or mentor supports can I expect at HISD?
All new teachers will receive a mentor upon being hired at a campus. Technology varies by campus, but generally HISD prides itself on its technological support. All school buildings are wireless campuses, and most schools have computer labs and/or science labs. Every classroom has computers, and many have ELMOS and/or Smart Boards. We have vertical and horizontal support systems in place, where you will not only receive assistance from the levels above and below you, but also assistance from your peers. We have one of the most extensive calendars of professional development available to help you enhance your skill set as an instructor. The curriculum is organized in relation to the TEKS to ensure lessons are aligned with standardized expectations. Other benefits of HISD systems include the ability for parents to check student grades online (coming soon!), an online calling system that contacts you with special updates, a disaster response line, and an electronic employee system where you can access your pay stubs, vacations hours, and benefits.

Timeline

What is the process of employment at HISD? How long does it take a principal to make an offer and for you to complete the paperwork in HR?
The process for employment varies greatly based on a number of factors (retention, attrition, campus needs). Once an offer is made, on average, it takes approximately two to four weeks to complete the hiring process.

Technology

I am having trouble with the HISDJobs application: (e.g. logging in, setting up an account, not compatible with certain browsers, etc.) HISDJobs operates most efficiently with Internet Explorer; please use this browser while exploring the site. Ensure you are entering your log-in information in the appropriate field. Do not attempt to put your username into the employee log-in; instead, log in here: https://prodnet.houstonisd.org/jobs/hisdjobs/login.aspx?tabid-1 In order to set up your account, please use the link above and click "user registration" or click on this link: https://prodnet.houstonisd.org/jobs/hisdjobs/Register.aspx?tabid=2

The system won't let me apply for a position because it says I don't have the right education or certification requirements, but I do. Why is it saying that?
Often, this is because the "Degree Earned" box was not checked (where appropriate), or certification credentials were not entered correctly (especially ACP graduates and student teachers).

I removed myself from a job because I wanted to edit my resume, but the listing disappeared and now I can't reapply for the job.
Once you remove yourself from consideration for a position, that specific position will a) be removed and b) become unavailable on your future job searches. If you want to reapply for the position at a later date and time, contact Recruitment Services to have that position re-enabled on your account.

I am unsure if my TeacherInsight Gallup poll survey results have been supplied to Houston ISD.
Each applicant that logs into HISD Jobs may go to the Account Tab to view the TeacherInsight completion status of "Complete" or "Incomplete". If the status is "Incomplete", the applicant must complete the assessment on the Gallup web site, by clicking the invitation link in their Jobs Account Tab.

The Job Hunt

Why do certain schools not attend the job fairs, even though they posted openings on the Web site?
As you may know, school administrators maintain very demanding schedules, and as a result, they are not always able to attend all scheduled job fairs. If you have interest in a particular campus, be sure to apply for a position with that campus online.

I heard HISD needs teachers, so why am I still looking for a job?
HISD only selects the top candidates to serve our students. Although HISD is looking for teachers, we have a rigorous screening process, so please ensure that you have met all requirements before attempting to apply. Additionally, although there are occasional openings elsewhere, the areas with the greatest need for certified teachers typically include bilingual education, Special Education and the content areas of math and science.