March 17, 2016
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
The School District of Philadelphia headquarters on North Broad Street.
The School District of Philadelphia will go on a hiring spree over the next three months in an effort to add 800 teachers in time for the 2016-17 school year.
Nearly 60 school nurses and 50 counselors also will be hired, the district announced Wednesday.
The salaries for those employees will cost the district about $41.6 million. Salaries for teachers without experience begin at $45,360. Nurses and counselor salaries begin at $51,113 and $45,360, respectively.
The majority of the new hires are needed due to attrition, spokesperson Chanice Savage said.
The district intends to complete the hiring process by the end of June, ensuring all schools are fully staffed. The district particularly seeks upper elementary school teachers and secondary teachers in the areas of math and science, special education, art, music, foreign language, bilingual education.
"Great teachers and staff are critical to our focus on building a more equitable system of schools across our city," Superintendent William Hite said in a statement. "We are committed to hiring educators and support staff who believe deeply in the potential of all students."
The early deadline for prospective applicants is March 25. An information session for prospective teachers will be held Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the administration building, located at 440 N. Broad St.
