TIGER TV ONLINE REPORTER
Like many graduating seniors, Sarah Batty is searching for a job.
Batty, an English major with a concentration in secondary education, hopes to find work as a teacher.
Wednesday’s Teacher Interviewing Day may be her ticket to employment.
“Teacher Interviewing Day is when we invite school districts and schools from all around the country to come to campus and interview mostly education majors, but anyone who wants to work in the fields of librarians, counselors, teachers or social workers,” said Sara Crowe, the assistant director of Career Services.
Forty-four organizations attended the event.
Batty had four interviews, but only one job offer.
Patricia Thibodeaux, a curriculum interventionist from Vermillion Parish, said though her parish had no job openings, that can change from month to month.
Vacancies are announced every month at bi-weekly meetings.
“Three years ago we had a need to full teaching positions, but we’ve had an ample amount of applicants in the last two years,” she said.
Though fewer job openings exist, Teacher Interviewing Day is still informative for aspiring teachers.
“It’s a really good way to learn about different school districts,” Crow said. “Also, it’s a nice way for students who are in the job search to find out what’s available to them.”
Crow said schools will sometimes have posters that display the starting salary for their district.
Batty is part of the University’s Geaux Teach program.
“Geaux Teach is the way you get secondary education certified at LSU,” said Sharon Besson, the manager for Geaux Teach’s math and science portion. “You get a content degree with secondary concentration similar to a minor.”
Students participating in Geaux Teach can get content degrees in math, biology, chemistry, physics and humanities like English, history, Spanish and French.
“It’s not offered to other majors because what could you teach in high school?” Besson said.
Geaux Teach certification qualifies participants to instruct middle school and high school. But participants first experience a classroom setting with an upper elementary class.
Besson said an upper elementary class is less intimidating than an older class.
Geaux Teach targets freshman and sophomores because it’s an eight semester program, said Greg Renoud, the president of Geaux Teach and a mathematics sophomore.
“If you want to finish on time you need to start as a freshman or sophomore,” he said. “Once you get past your junior year it would delay your graduation.”
The Geaux Teach program is modeled after a similar program at the University of Texas. Geaux Teach plans to expand to Southern in the next few years and hopes to expand throughout the state, Besson said.
Students who are interested in the program can test drive a one hour class, she said.Students who complete with a C or better are reimbursed $170 for the class, Besson said.
“We’re asking you try out classes before making a decision,” she said.
Batty said she began teaching when she was 12 with dancing, swimming and Sunday school classes.
“My mom’s a teacher, and I’ve seen her influence on students,” she said. “I want to impact the world the way she has.”
For more information about Teacher Interviewing Day visit, visit their website.  The event happens in fall and spring.
For more information about Geaux Teach visit their site.