Houston Area Teacher Center Conference & Job Fair - University of Houston
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Houston Area Teacher Center Conference & Job Fair

Principles and Human Resource Managers on the Panel Discussion
From left: Marty Moffet, Jeff McCanna, Andrea Kuhn, Kay Kerr, and Karen Cossey on the panel discussion at the HATC Job Fair at the Hilton, University of Houston on November 11, 2016.

Over 600 teacher education students from the University of Houston, College of Education (UH COE) and partnering Texas universities attended the Houston Area Teacher Center’s (HATC) biannual Student Teaching Conference and Job Fair held on November 11, 2016.

The purpose of the fair is to bring future teachers and representatives from public school districts and entities together to learn and network.  The consortium provides a forum for representatives from each school district to solve issues of common concern. Together, district and UH representatives discuss certification areas and issues that districts would like to focus on such as job placements for student teachers, policy statements and more.

Teacher Candidates listen attentively at a workshop at the College of Education Farish Hall
Teacher Candidates listen attentively at a workshop at the College of Education Farish Hall during the HATC Conference and Job Fair.

Teacher candidates from UH COE and partnering universities began the day with a general session at the Hilton, University of Houston where district principals and Human Resource Managers fielded questions from students eager to secure teaching jobs.  Marty Moffet, Principal, Mae Smythe Elementary, Pasedena, TX; Jeff McCanna, Officer of Human Capital, Houston ISD; Andrea Kuhn, Human Resources Director, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD; Kay Kerr, Human Resources Director, Channelview ISD; and Karen Cossey Teacher Recruiter, Spring Branch ISD served on the panel.

McCanna who has served on the panel each year at the HATC conference was truly honored to share insight and opportunities with the future teachers. "This is a great opportunity as an educator,” he said. "Through the panel of district representatives, the students are able to have their questions answered, given ideas about what works, and suggestions on how to best prepare for their future endeavors.  HATC serves as another great example of how collaboration should be done between the school districts and their university partners.  Together we are better!"

After the general session, students made their way to Farish Hall to attend sessions that covered topics including expectations of a first year teacher, standardized testing, legal issues, leadership skills, and resume advice. 

Future teacher David Le (8-12 English) at UH COE, found the general session on how to avoid Teacher Burnout very informative. "I really enjoyed what Dr. Elizabeth Trevino [from Houston Baptist University] mentioned that stuck with me: 'It's not selfish to take care of yourself, because it allows you to be in a position to take care of others.'”

Student Teacher Candidates speaking to recruiters at the HATC Job Fair at the Hilton, University of Houton
A teacher candidate discusses options with a recruiter at  the HATC  Job Fair at the Hilton, University of Houston.

Julia Trevino, a 8-12 future History teacher said she really enjoyed the HATC Conference & Job Fair.  “Everyone that was involved with the event was very kind and informative. I came out feeling reassured about my future in education.”

Future high school 8-12 History teacher, Jonathan Mendoza appreciated what he learned from the panel and the workshops. "I learned things within the last few hours that I hadn't learned in any of my other education courses. Not to knock those courses, but the tips given throughout the event made me very excited about landing the right job for me."

The day ended with students returning to the Hilton, University of Houston for a job fair. Participating member school districts and entities set up booths in the hotel to share information about job opportunities with the future teachers.

UH COE students volunteered for the event.  They worked at the registration table at the Hilton, served as guides at the Farish Hall workshops, and helped with set-up as well as anything that else that was required. 

In 1971, HATC began with only six Houston area school districts under the direction of UH Professor Robert Houston. A grant from the U.S. Department of Education funded it initially, but the innovative concept caught fire. One of the first teacher advisory groups of its kind in the country, HATC’s success helped inspire the State of Texas to mandate that similar teacher centers be created across the state. Over the years, the consortium has bloomed in its size and impact not only locally, but internationally.