Many jobs are available with Waco ISD

WACO, Texas (FOX 44) – The Waco Independent School District held an Auxiliary Job Fair at the Heart of Texas Goodwill on June 26. The have various vacancies in jobs such as child nutrition, custodial, transportation, maintenance, utility, plumbers, groundskeeping, and HVAC.

Auxiliary employees play an important role in the day to day lives of students. Waco ISD the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Dr. Daniel Lopez emphasized how amongst all jobs, auxiliary is in high demand.

“Next to the teaching staff. They’re the most important, they get our facilities moving. Our transportation is important because they get the kids to where they need to be. Our child nutrition is important because they feed our kids and so they are really the boots on the ground aside from the teaching staff.” Daniel said

The school district has had an increase in pay, in hopes to attract more employees! Positions like transportation are paying $27 per hour.

With 20 bus drivers needed to complete routes, these vacancies are important.

Although high compensation is a main attraction for applicants, WISD is looking for people who will build trust with the students and families.

“Being short staffed on a daily basis affects the routes tremendously. That means kids are missing breakfast, sometimes kids are missing instructional time. First period is kind of like the start of the day. Even for us as adults, we get a late start to their day that kind of sets the tone of how the day may turn out and that’s the same for our students…we want to improve,” said Monique Brock, Assistant Director of Transportation.

Waco ISD is one of the largest employing companies in the Waco, and they want to make sure their employees are in a good environment.

“We feed off of our three pillars, which is leading with character, leading with heart and leading with results. As long as we’re doing that, workers or employees seem to find good comfort being here,” said Lopez.

Aside from auxiliary positions, for the second consecutive year, Waco ISD will offer $5,000 sign-on bonuses to certified teachers, counselors, librarians, and library media specialists.

With that, police offers will be given a $5,000 sign-on bonus, and registered nurses, $2,500.

Teachers must hired before July 1. Officers and nurses before August 1. The total estimate of funds is $700,000, paid for with federal ESSER funds.

For the WISD leadership, these roles go deeper than compensation.

“Sometimes with some of the kids in the community we service, the consistency with the same bus driver is the only consistency they have in their lives. So, it’s important when we show up, that we have a smiling face, a great attitude. All of those things, and cheering them on,” said Brock.

“Our auxiliary folks become mentors for some of our students. So, beyond what they do. They connect with the community, and they connect with our kids. So that’s an important piece to working in Waco ISD,” said Lopez.