Dallas schools recruit teachers in Oklahoma

Tulsa, Okla. (KTUL) — Oklahoma teachers could be headed for jobs in the Lone Star State. The Dallas Independent School district is using social media to attract and recruit Oklahoma teachers for job interviews in Oklahoma City.

"We lost a teacher yesterday in Sand Springs schools, for children, great teacher, math teacher to Waco, Texas. Why? About 15-thousand more dollars and more stability," said Sand Springs Superintendent Lloyd Snow, who says he is concerned as his district is releasing 10 new, temporary teachers, not renewing their contracts. He believes they could leave the state as well.

"There is no question that there will be some of those folks who land. But there is no question a lot of those folks will land outside Oklahoma," said Snow.

Right now, DISD is using social media and a link to a website giving teachers the chance to make appointments for interviews online and the slots were filling up quickly.

Linda Hendrix of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association says Oklahoma is ripe with teachers for surrounding states.

"They know we are in a terrible budget situation. They know there is a possibility teachers are not going to have positions they currently have. So it's like here is a wealth of people we can draw from," said Hendrix who says teachers are afraid and angry.

Hendrix believes new graduates might jump at the $50,000 Dallas offers brand new teachers, compared to the $32,900 offered by Tulsa Public Schools and $32,600 offered at Sand Springs Public Schools.

"There are people that will be looking for those opportunities to go to other places and there will be other places looking at Oklahoma as a good drawing ground for their teachers because of the mess we are in," said Hendrix.