The Department of Human Resources is responsible for recruiting, screening, and hiring all district employees (see Frontline Education for job opportunities). Among the many programs the department supervises are employee orientation, benefits such as health insurance, employee recognition, retirement, teacher certification, employee evaluation, and fingerprinting. School District 15 employs approximately 2,093 staff. Approximately 913 are certified teachers, 62 administrators, 822 classified staff, and 296 substitute teachers.
This includes teachers who average 13 years of teaching experience; 80 percent of teachers hold master’s degrees and above; and 119 teachers are certified by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, the highest teaching credential available.
All official personnel records are maintained by this department, which also coordinates the following district programs: negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, official school calendar, workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, wage and salary computation, employment of substitute teachers, and staff development for classified employee groups.
Staff Development
The School District 15 staff is the most important asset. The district's human resource development program focuses on helping each person achieve his or her highest level of productivity. A New Teacher Induction Program, currently consisting of four days of orientation and ongoing training workshops throughout the school year, is provided for all teachers new to the district. There is a Mentor Program for both new and experienced administrators and teachers, training for support staff, and technology training for all employees.
Staff Recognition
School District 15 appreciates all employees and the work they do for children. Events are held each year to recognize those efforts to provide quality education. Some of these events include the Board of Education reception for retirees, acknowledgement of staff through the District's Above and Beyond Award, and activities during American Education Week.
Administrators also work with staff members to help them gain national and regional recognition through a variety of programs. Among those programs are the National Board Certification for teachers from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, Golden Apple Award, Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, and the Kohl/McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Award.
