By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-778137.mp3
Dallas, TX – The Dallas School District's job fair for laid-off teachers drew more than 400 people to the Convention Center. KERA's BJ Austin says 115 employers, including 60 school districts, were there to look at resumes.
More than 400 Dallas School District teachers, assistant principals and counselors are looking for work, part of more than 600 layoffs to help close an $84 million budget shortfall. One of those at the job fair was John Vega. Until last week, he was an assistant principal at Bryan Adams High School. He says after a year and half in that job, he knew he'd found his calling.
Vega: As an administrator you have an impact on the whole school, therefore having an impact on the kids and the teachers. What's really ironic is I was recruited from the classroom to be an administrator. Now, I'm out on the street, literally.
Vega says he did not find a lot of opportunities for school administrators at the job fair, but he's optimistic something will turn up before January 16 and his final school district paycheck. He's married with three young children and says this is an emotional time for his family.
Vega: Especially for my wife. I didn't tell her until the very last day. I think she's the one who took the hardest hit on this.
Vega says he wants to be a high school principal and hopes there's a place for him in the Dallas area.
Vega: We're not considering any relocation right now. We like where we are. I was four minutes away from Bryan Adams, so hopefully one day I'll be back. I'd like to stay there.
Austin: And you've been telling your wife.
Vega: I'll find something very soon. Don't worry. And no more crying!
One high school special education teacher says she appreciates the job fair effort and the community concern for the victims of the district's big bookkeeping blunder.