Austin ISD is getting creative in seeking teacher talent and recruiting top teachers into classrooms.

On Tuesday, the human capital team held a student teacher social event at Bouldin Acres restaurant to meet with current student teachers for the 2021-22 school year and provide a social opportunity to build community and a connection among other student teachers.

"This is an opportunity for us to start building a community with our future teachers and connect them with principals and current teachers and other student teachers in the district to learn from one another and start coming together as a community," said Ashley Gahan, professional learning design coordinator for AISD. "We want to ensure that we are finding the best teachers to support our kids and one way to do that is by helping support them as they grow before they enter the profession, and we want to encourage them to continue with Austin ISD."

Student teachers are university students who are getting their degrees in education and completing their field experience.

Many student teachers work with certified teachers in the district as a part of that experience.

Paola Martinez is completing her degree in education at Saint Edward's University and will graduate this May. She says she wants to teach in a district that will look out for her.

"With so much change in education recently, I personally really want a district and a school that will care and support me so that I can support my students as well and help them grow and help them be the best they can be," said Martinez.

Gabriela Gonzalez is also completing her degree in education this spring and says she wants to work in a district that has a strong community.

"Having Support is key for me, especially after what the world has gone through and a sense of community especially after being isolated, the community is now more important than ever," Gonzalez said.

Samantha Schwenke is Austin ISD's staffing and recruiting coordinator and a former student teacher. She says it is sometimes hard to figure out where to go after college.

"When I was a student teacher, I felt like a deer in the headlights," said Schwenke. "You don't have a direction of where to go or what to do next, so it's nice to meet us face to face so that they know that we are here to support them and help them find a home with us at Austin ISD."

By hiring student teachers who foster a growth mindset, demonstrate an urgency of change, and engage in meaningful instructional practices, AISD students will become college, career, and life ready.

Executive director of staffing and recruiting Norma Castillo says it is essential to recruit student teachers so they can continue where they began.

"Student teachers have made a decision to learn from us by being student teachers in our district, and we want them to stay here not just to learn and grow but to be employees and become AISD teachers," Castillo said. "Many of them are students from University of Texas or Texas State, and they may have plans to go back home, and we want to capture them in the city where they are learning and continue living here."

For more information on how to become a student teacher, please visit www.austinisd.org/student-teaching.