Special education assistants, student service assistants, bus drivers and mechanics still are being hired in North Allegheny School District, according to a human resources report provided to the school board on Sept. 11.
The human resources department provides a report on student enrollment and staffing counts every September, reflecting data from the third day of the school year. Taking a third-day count for staff and students keeps it annually consistent, said Marijane Treacy, director of human resources.
“As you can imagine, like any large employer, our numbers fluctuate throughout the year, retirements, resignations, hires, et cetera. So we stick with this Day Three data,” she said.
North Allegheny’s third-day enrollment for 2024-25 is 8,577 students, marking a slight increase compared to the same day last school year at 8,494.
As of Sept. 3, there are approximately 1,195 full-time employees. Much of the hiring takes place during the summer, Treacy said.
Eight North Allegheny graduates returned to their alma mater to work, and six student teachers who worked at North Allegheny last year also joined the district. There were 38 new hires with master’s degrees, an increase of five from last year, hailing mostly from Duquesne University.
The district used 20 different sources to post job openings, including its own Frontline Recruiting and Hiring posts.
“We really do cast our net widely to find the best and most talented staff for our students,” Treacy said. “We always want to make sure we have the best talent.”
Regarding current staffing opportunities, the district is looking for more full-time special education assistants.
Positions are also available for part-time student services assistants, full-time custodians, maintenance, bus drivers and mechanics.
Training is provided for potential special education hires and bus drivers, according to Treacy.
The district is always hiring substitutes, whether paraprofessional, day-to-day or guest substitutes, the latter not requiring a teaching certification, she said.
The state Department of Education allows individuals with a bachelor’s degree to become guest substitutes, along with the appropriate clearances. Mandatory training is required and held periodically at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Compensation for a guest substitute is $120 per day, according to the position description.
There are also job opportunities in food services, with more information at jwest@northallegheny.org.
Visit the district’s careers link at www.northallegheny.org.
Natalie Beneviat is a Trib Total Media contributing writer.