The Importance of Recruiting Great People in Schools –
Our Search Process at Forsyth Country Day School
David Bowman
Many factors play a role in the success or failure of an independent school, but none is as important as the quality of faculty. Charged with the responsibility of providing a quality educational experience for both students and their families, we strive to bring to our school educators who have a passion for teaching, and who, through their example, can provide a road map for a student’s moral and personal development.
At Forsyth Country Day School, we are blessed with a dedicated and caring faculty. They each bring their own set of talents and skills to our school and each enriches the FCDS community in his or her own way. But they have many traits in common. Our faculty are genuinely excited about education, and committed to the growth and development of each child. They encourage students to try new things and help them to nurture newfound talents. They have high expectations for students and help them to set and achieve their own goals. I’ve been particularly pleased with the education our son Will is receiving, and I am enjoying watching him grow into an outstanding young man with many talents and high aspirations, thanks to our faculty.
To define the qualities we desire in our new faculty, we need look only as far as our current teachers and administrators. Who will make a wonderful additional to the team? Does the candidate share our passion and commitment to education? As with any executive search handled by a corporation or small business, we begin the recruitment process by contacting as many individuals in the “school business” as possible to find suitable candidates. We also are contacted by teachers who have heard of our school by word of mouth, from a colleague, or who have discovered us online. We narrow the field to an initial list of prospective candidates, which can contain as many as 40 to 50 people. Through phone interviews, we narrow the pool to approximately five to ten finalists. The finalists are brought to our campus for extensive interviews with administration, department heads, and faculty. Many of these finalists will be asked to teach a class and to meet with students as a part of the hiring process. Background, drug, and reference checks complete this exhaustive process. No matter what position we are trying to fill, we are equally far-reaching and diligent in our search, because there are simply no unimportant positions in education.
Our hires often lead our families to wonder, “How in the world did they get that teacher to come to Forsyth Country Day School?” The answer is simple: we have a passion for education and a commitment to children that draws people with the same passion. And when faculty and schools put children first, we are able to provide the best possible educational experience for our students and their families, and the kind of schools where the best teachers want to work.