Sherman ISD Building Bearcats Magazine November 2017 | страница 8

BEST OF THE BEST by Holly Kapp
The Sherman ISD Human Resources staff are, standing L-R, Lea Hester, Lucy Salazar Garcia, Debra Ozendes, Derenda Olivarez
and Gaylyn Green. Seated is Executive Director Jill O’Neal.
SHERMAN ISD FOCUSES ON HIRING,
KEEPING GREAT STAFF
Sherman Independent School District was named
the 2016 Large Business of the Year for the City
of Sherman and it’s most valuable resource is the
driving force behind that accolade.
“Our staff make a difference every day, and many
provide support and resources to their students and
peers that no one ever knows about,” Executive
Director of Human Resources Jill O’Neal said.
“The teachers in our district do a really good job of
supporting one another, new members of their team,
and the students in our schools.”
This year, the Sherman ISD Board of Trustees, along
with administration, laser focused on recruiting and
retention as a primary goal for the district. Part of the
overall district strategic plan, bringing the best of the
best to Sherman ISD schools is the foundation of
meeting the district’s goals overall.
8
“We want to attract people that are high quality, provide
quality training for them, and keep them in the district
once they’re here,” O’Neal said of the district’s recruiting
and retention efforts. “We are all working for the same
reason, to help our students reach their full potential so
that they become productive members of our community.
We want to provide positive instruction and training
for our teachers so they are all growing with us as
professionals.”  
O’Neal, her staff, district principals, directors, and
teachers attend numerous job fairs from Norman, Okla.
to Brownsville, Texas, looking for the top applicants.
In addition, alternative certification programs offer
assistance at filling positions.
“I look for somebody who is committed to kids, smart,
and definitely a good communicator,” O’Neal said. “We
want somebody that’s going to take it seriously, but not
so seriously that kids don’t have an opportunity to learn.”
Once SISD has these great teachers, what makes them