Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators and School Principals:

Support for Recruitment of Recent Graduates as
Classified Staff

On behalf of the California Department of Education (CDE), I am reaching out to encourage local educational agencies (LEAs) to connect with recent graduates who may be looking for work and to provide opportunities for employment within our schools.

We know that our schools offer strong employment opportunities with access to benefits far beyond what students might otherwise be offered right out of high school.

We also know that efforts to “grow our own” help strengthen our school communities and increase our students’ sense of belonging at school.

As recent graduates are seeking work and LEAs are filling critical vacancies, the CDE Office of Teacher Recruitment is extending support for LEAs’ classified recruitment efforts this summer. Please encourage recent graduates who are interested in classified positions to email WorkInCASchools@cde.ca.gov. The CDE will connect interested graduates with their LEA’s Human Resources staff.

Alongside our valued labor partners, we are proud that California schools offer competitive, supportive employment opportunities for our recent graduates. Whether working as technicians in local Information Technology departments, supporting Nutrition Services departments, keeping school campuses clean and safe as maintenance staff, or directly serving students as paraprofessional educators, classified employment opportunities represent deeply valued roles in our schools and strong pathways to careers.

Thank you for your partnership in service of our students, schools, and communities.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction