As students to get ready to head back to school in two less than two weeks, the Jeff Davis Parish school district is looking to fill substitute positions.

On Monday, district personnel held a substitute job fair at the Union Baptist Church Family Life Center in Jennings to recruit substitutes for the 2023-2024 school year which begins Aug. 11.

“This is the second time we are doing this,” Assistant Superintendent Ben Outstalet said. “Last year we were very pleased with the results of people coming in. I think the timing is right, especially just before the start of the new school year.”

The school district hopes to fill nearly two dozen substitute positions before the school year starts, according to Oustalet.

Although the most urgent need is classroom teachers and cafeteria workers, Oustalet said the district is looking to fill positions in every facet of education including food service, transportation and special education. Regular classroom teachers and custodians are also needed, he said.

“We say today is a substitute job fair, but really these are the people that a lot of time become our full-time people.” Oustalet  said. “We tell people all the time, “If you come and sub and do a good job, you are going to roll over into a full-time position which has all the benefits and retirement that comes with working within a school system.”

During the job fair, potential job applicants met with supervisors and administrators to learn more about the open positions and begin the initial employment process.

For one potential employee, Jennifer Mouhot of Jennings it was an opportunity to get her foot in the door and hopefully get to spend more time with her children.

Mouhot, who has been a substitute before, wanted to sign up to do it again.

“My youngest baby is starting pre-kindergarten so that made me want to sub again,” she said. “I hope to have a similar schedule to what my kids have and be close to my kids.”

Wendy Trahan, who just moved to Jennings from New Iberia, is looking for a job that will allow her to take care of her mother and grandchildren.

“I am looking for cafeteria work because of the hours,” Trahan said. “I take care of my Mom so in the evening I need to be free to be able to take care of her.”

The flexible hours will also allow her to help take care of her grandchildren after school.

“I want to be there when they get off of school, so if they need me to go pick them up and bring them home, I will be available,” she said, noting that her daughter-in-law just had a baby.

Bernadine Hardy of Jennings is looking for something to do in retirement.

“I am retired and looking for something to do,” Hardy said. I’ve got to get out of the house.”

Hardy and her sister were both looking for work as substitutes.

Hardy said she had applied for the job before, but her husband got sick so she had to take care of him.

Hardy said the job fair is a great opportunity for anyone looking for a job.

“It’s awesome,” she said. “I just hope people show up because it sounds like they actually need some people to work.”

Hardy is interested in working at Hathaway High School to be closer to her grandchildren, but said she will go anywhere she is needed because of her love for children.

Katie Babineaux of Jennings went to the job fair to learn more about what positions were available in hopes of landing a permanent position with flexible hours.

“There are so many different opportunities that they have here,” Babineaux said.

Babineaux, who loves working with children, was interested in transportation and substitute teaching

Anyone unable to attend the job fair is encouraged to contact the Jeff Davis Parish School Board Office at 337-824-1834 for more information about available positions. Job openings are also available on the School Board’s website at www.jeffersondavis.org.